Hydrogen Masterclass

Last week, we provided a background on the hydrogen industry, with a specific focus on fuel cells. This week, we’ll explore hydrogen’s role in the energy industry through the key characteristics we have used to explore other energy production or storage methods.

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Characteristics of Hydrogen

Efficiency – When exploring the efficiency of hydrogen, we have the different stages of the hydrogen energy-carrying cycle which we can explore. First, the efficiency depends on how efficient hydrogen production is. As discussed last week, in electrolysis, an electric current is used to split water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O).

The efficiency of electrolysis depends on the source of this electricity. Let’s take a specific efficiency for electrolysis, say 80%. The efficiency of the electrolysis process as a whole can depend on many factors. The membrane chosen, the operating conditions, and the design of the stack in which the electrolysis occurs. Once we have a set efficiency for electrolysis, the efficiency of the entire production process will become a multiplication.