Green Hydrogen Using Catalyst Coated Technology and Electrolyzers : JM and Hystar Team Up

Green Hydrogen Using Catalyst Coated Technology and Electrolyzers : JM and Hystar Team Up

Here’s an article posted in PR News Wire that talks about the partnership of Johnson Matthey and Hystar in hydrogen.

According to the article,

• Johnson Matthey and Hystar have signed a strategic supply agreement to ramp up renewable hydrogen production, fulfilling JM’s goal of securing at least two strategic partnerships in Hydrogen Technologies by the end of 2022/23.
• JM will supply membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), crucial components for electrolysers, for Hystar’s PEM electrolysers used in the HyPilot project in Norway, aiming to verify Hystar’s patented PEM technology under realistic field conditions.
• Hystar’s PEM electrolyser technology surpasses Clean Hydrogen for Europe 2030 targets, and the partnership with JM aims to further improve performance, design circularity principles, and enable scale-up to multi-GW production by 2025.

The partnership between Johnson Matthey (JM) and Hystar focuses on advancing the production of green hydrogen through cutting-edge technology in electrolyzers. They utilize catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) technology in proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers, which is central to this development.

Here’s how the process works in detail:

1. Catalyst Coated Membranes (CCM): Johnson Matthey provides these specialized membranes for use in Hystar’s electrolyzers. The CCM technology incorporates catalyst layers directly coated onto the membrane, reducing manufacturing complexity and enhancing the efficiency of the hydrogen production process.
2. Electrolyzer Technology: Hystar’s electrolyzers, particularly the PEM type, benefit from several advancements such as using thinner membranes (below 35 microns) which effectively reduce the ohmic resistance. This allows for higher efficiency by decreasing the energy consumption required to split water into hydrogen and oxygen​
3. Operational Mechanics: In the electrolysis process, humidified air is supplied to the anode while purified water is fed to the cathode. Hydrogen and oxygen are produced through the electrolysis of water, with the generated hydrogen being separated from water and dried for storage or use. The design ensures a safe operation by diluting hydrogen at the anode with humidified air to prevent explosive mixtures.
4. Enhanced Efficiency and Safety: The design of Hystar’s electrolyzers allows for increased water transport from the cathode to the anode, which improves overall gas production rates. Safety is further enhanced by controlling the pressure and the flow of humidified air, keeping hydrogen concentrations below explosive limits​

Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:

Iridium Catalysts – for Efficient Green Hydrogen Production: Iridium catalysts offer efficiency in hydrogen production but face cost challenges. Research explores strategies like defect engineering for wider adoption.Hydrogen Production from Biomass-IISc’s Technology: IISc introduces groundbreaking technology for extracting hydrogen from biomass, offering a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for cleaner energy sources. New Hydrogen Production Technology: Thermo-Photovoltaics, Create H2,O2 & Heat – Solar cell innovation uses thermo-photovoltaics to convert sunlight into heat, splitting water into hydrogen, oxygen, and heat for clean energy.