Novel modular and eco-designed PEM electrolyser integrated with solar energy for green hydrogen production

到2050年，英国政府必须将该国的温室气体净排放量相对于1990年的水平减少100%。氢气为短期和长期的碳中和甚至无碳社会提供了一条道路。净零目标和政策激励措施鼓励投资于绿色制氢，特别是结合可再生太阳能的水电解方法的研发。电解槽的成本和耐用性仍然是商业化的重大障碍。易于更换的标准化模块化质子交换膜（PEM）电解槽，具有较小的规模，使系统灵活，稳健，普遍适用。它为降低成本和延长电解槽寿命提供了一种可行的解决方案，即使在间歇性太阳能供电时也是如此。该项目旨在开发一种优化的模块化和环保的PEM电解槽，具有更高的能源效率和更长的使用寿命。电解槽模块与太阳能光伏集成，以加速全球碳减排。候选人将利用先进的物理和电化学表征工具研究和开发用于膜电极组件（MEA）的新型可回收材料。该项目将需要分子/电子/系统建模，以研究水裂解反应的机制，它们与电池组件的关系，降解机制，并提高性能水平。将进行小型实验室规模原型的实验研究，以验证模块的传热和传质行为、稳定性和耐用性。太阳能电解的潜在好处，如降低成本，提高耐用性，环境影响将通过技术经济环境研究进行评估。

By 2050, the UK government is required to reduce the country's net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels. Hydrogen offers a path to a carbon-neutral or even a carbon-free society in both the short and long term. The net-zero targets and policy incentives encourage investment in green hydrogen production, especially in the research and development of water electrolysis methods integrated with renewable solar energy. The electrolyser's cost and durability remain the significant barriers to commercialization. Easily replaceable standardized modular proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) electrolyser, with a smaller scale, allows the system to be flexible, robust, and universally applicable. It provides a feasible solution for cost reduction and prolongs the electrolyser lifetime even when powered by intermittent solar energy. This project aims to develop an optimized modular and eco-friendly PEM electrolyser with higher energy efficiency and a longer lifetime. The electrolyser modules are integrated with solar photovoltaic for accelerating worldwide carbon-saving. The candidate will investigate and develop a novel recyclable material for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with advanced physical and electrochemical characterisation tools. This project will need molecular/electronic/systematic modelling to investigate the mechanism of the water-splitting reactions, their relationship with the cell components, degradation mechanisms, and raise performance level. An experimental study of a small lab-scale prototype will be conducted for validating the module's heat and mass transfer behaviour, stability, and durability. Potential benefits for solar-powered electrolysis, like cost reduction, enhance durability, and environmental impact will be evaluated through techno-economic-environmental study.