PROJECTSELY4OFF

ELY4OFF

PEM ElectroLYsers FOR operation with OFFgrid renewable installations
April 2016 - September 2019

SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES

Hydrogen production by PEM water electrolysers (PEMWE) has the potential of becoming a key enabling technology in the deployment of FCH technologies in the future energy market as an energy storage system able to deliver hydrogen to different applications and enabling a high penetration of renewable energy sources (RES). PEMWE has showed capabilities in the emerging hydrogen scenarios to be a valid alternative to previously developed technologies, especially considering the dynamic and versatile operation expected of hydrogen production methods when integrated with RES.

Despite the advances and improvements experienced to date with these systems, the technology needs to be further improved if it is to be installed as a competitive solution for energy markets and even more so in the case of off-grid configurations due to their particularities. The development of an autonomous off-grid electrolysers as an energy storage or backup solution (e.g. replacing diesel engines) is an unusual and challenging goal because it needs to have the capability of being directly coupled to RES in locations where the electricity grid is not deployed or weak.

The main goal of the ELY4OFF proposal is the development and demonstration of an autonomous off-grid electrolysis system linked to renewable energy sources, including the essential overarching communication and control system for optimising the overall efficiency when integrated in a real installation.

FOUNDATION ROLE

The Foundation for the Development of New Hydrogen Technologies in Aragon the coordinator of the project and it will be actively involved in all the work packages. Their work will be focused mainly in leading the establishment of requirements for the PEMWE to be integrated in the FHA demonstrator, leading the task of study and validation of peripheral systems to the electrolyser, commissioning the PEMWE and establishing and carrying out the demonstration plan, and developing a dissemination and awareness plan directed to relevant stakeholders at EU and international levels.

Coordinator
Funding entities

This Project has been funded by the European Commission through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.

Partners