Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Water Electrolysis: Cell-Level Considerations for Gigawatt-Scale Deployment

Hydrogen produced with no greenhouse gas emissions is termed "green hydrogen" and will be essential to reaching decarbonization targets set forth by nearly every country as per the Paris Agreement. Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are expected to contribute substantially to the green hydrogen market. However, PEMWE market penetration is insignificant, accounting for less than a gigawatt of global capacity. Achieving substantive decarbonization via green hydrogen will require PEMWEs to reach capacities of hundreds of gigawatts by 2030. This paper serves as an overarching roadmap for cell-level improvements necessary for gigawatt-scale PEMWE deployment, with insights from three…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: DE-AC02-05CH11231, 1839285, DGE-1839285
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: -AC02-05CH11231, DE-EE0009238, 05CH11231, AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02, DE-AC02-05CH11231, DE-AC02-
• FT
  Fondazione Ticino Olona
• OO
  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

  Awards: AC02-05CH11231, DE-EE0008836, DE-EE0009238, DE-AC02-05CH11231
• FC
  Fuel Cell Technologies Program

  Award: DE-AC02-05CH11231
• OO
  Office of Energy Efficiency
• NS
  National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

  Award: DGE-1839285