Improving the performance of an electrolyzer prototype used to generate hydrogen gas from sea water

全球正在努力应对由于温室气体（GHG）排放导致的全球变暖所造成的气候变化。加拿大制定了雄心勃勃的目标，到2050年将温室气体排放量减少到净零。为了实现这一目标，化石燃料必须被不产生温室气体的燃料所取代，例如绿色氢（H2）。目前，约96%的H2是由甲烷和其他化石燃料通过重整或气化过程产生的，导致高碳强度。因此，应该迅速开发能够大规模生产低碳强度H2的其他技术，例如水和蒸汽电解，以满足未来几十年增加的H2需求。目前的质子交换膜和碱性电解技术需要高纯度的水作为输入。然而，由于有限的清洁水源，必须开发从非饮用水和海水中生产H2的电解技术。为了解决这些问题，Evolve Hydrogen Inc（EHI）目前正在开发一种基于低制造成本材料和施工方法的多功能、紧凑、小型电解槽，该电解槽可以在含盐供水条件下运行。虽然已经使用独特的低成本聚合物成型技术开发了工作原型，但EHI电解槽的性能，效率和耐用性仍然需要通过重点研究来提高。这将涉及通过使用聚合物前体的添加剂以及表面掺杂方法来改变阳极和阴极的组成。通过利用Birss集团的催化剂开发和电化学专业知识以及Qualicase Ltd和Fidelity Machine and Mould Solutions的注塑专业知识，用于从海水中产生H2的电解槽原型的性能将得到显着提高。通过这些手段，子公司Evolve Hydrogen Canada（EHC）的目标是在加拿大生产10万台用于国内和出口目的的装置。由卡尔加里公司开发这种市场化的电解槽将补充加拿大作为生产和处理能源资源的世界领导者的作用，同时通过公平创造就业机会加速其能源部门的多样化。

Global efforts are being undertaken to tackle climate change caused by global warming due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Canada has set ambitious goals of reducing GHG emissions to net-zero by 2050. To achieve this, fossil fuels must be replaced by non-GHG producing fuels, such as green hydrogen (H2). Currently, about 96% of H2 is produced from methane and other fossil fuels by reforming or gasification processes, resulting in high carbon intensity. Hence, other technologies, such as water and steam electrolysis capable of producing low carbon intensity H2 at large scale should be rapidly developed to meet the increased H2 demand in the coming decades. Current proton exchange membrane and alkaline electrolysis technologies require high purity water as the input. However, due to limited clean water sources, electrolysis technologies that product H2 from non-potable and sea water must be developed. To address these issues, Evolve Hydrogen Inc (EHI) is currently developing a versatile, compact, small-scale electrolyzer based on low manufacturing cost materials and construction methods, which can operate on salt-containing water supplies. Although working prototypes have been developed using a unique, low-cost polymer moulding technology, the EHI electrolyzer performance, efficiency, and durability still requires enhancement through focussed research. This will involve altering the composition of the anode and cathode through the use of additives to the polymer precursor, as well as surface doping methods. By taking advantage of the catalyst development and electrochemical expertise of the Birss group, and the injection molding expertise of Qualicase Ltd and Fidelity Machine and Mould Solutions, the performance of an electrolyzer prototype used to generate H2 from seawater will be significantly improved. By these means, the subsidiary, Evolve Hydrogen Canada (EHC), is targeting to produce 100,000s of units in Canada for domestic and export purposes. Developing such a market-ready electrolyzer by Calgary-based companies will complement Canada's role as a world leader in producing and handling energy resources, while at the same time accelerating the diversification of its energy sector through equitable job creation.