Perspective—Oxygen-Based Fuel Cell and Reversible Systems for Heavy-Duty Motive and Stationary Applications

Abstract

The levelized cost of reversible fuel cells is used to identify benefits associated with oxygen use. For the same application, only three parameters influence the cost: roundtrip efficiency, total installation, and operation/maintenance costs. The higher efficiency reversible solid oxide fuel cell is preferred. Volume considerations suggest oxygen use in heavy-duty proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Oxygen differentially affects PEMFC degradation modes and limited data hamper the estimation of operation/maintenance costs. Comparative cost analyses and durability data are needed to ensure that the anticipated massive amount of oxygen produced by electrolysis, which is frequently vented, is not a lost opportunity.

Challenges in Green Hydrogen Production with Renewable and Varying Electricity Supply: An Electrochemical Engineering Perspective

“…Solid oxide water electrolysers/fuel cells are a promising technology which has been predicted to emerge quickly from the current demonstration scale to the industrial scale in the coming decades. 9,10 At present though, only two types of commercial electrolysers operate on the MW scale-Alkaline electrolysers and PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) electrolysers and are planned to scale up to GW by 2030. 11 Therefore, this paper will focus on the immediate technological needs for Alkaline and PEM electrolysers.…”