Netherlands-based Battolyser is bringing unique technology to the world to help the industry switch from grey to green hydrogen while storing renewable energy.
The technology developed at the Delft University of Technology was inspired by the nickel-iron battery made by Thomas Edison more than a hundred years ago.
In 1901, Edison secured the patent for the nickel-iron battery, which he believed could power vehicles. However, after experimenting with electric vehicles briefly, the automotive industry was keen to move to gasoline-powered engines.
Even though the battery delivered better energy density than the lead-acid batteries of the time, their higher costs prevented them from being a commercial success.
Another undesirable issue in a vehicle was that the battery produced hydrogen at its electrodes. More than a century later, researchers at Delft University turned this into a feature by making the Battolyser—a battery that doubles up as an electrolyzer and makes green hydrogen.
How does the technology work?
Researchers at Delft University used the same nickel-iron electrodes seen in Edison’s designs. Then, they paired them with an alkaline electrolysis system that is commercially available today. The device can be charged with renewable energy from solar or wind farms and is compatible with their intermittentity.
When the device is fully charged, it begins splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, which can be used for various purposes, such as tiding over power imbalances during the day or season or using hydrogen to power industries that cannot be electrified.
The company claims that its device has an efficiency of 85 percent and can produce pressurized hydrogen at lower costs than similar technology.
Advantages of the system
According to Battolyser’s website, the energy storage cum hydrogen production unit is made from abundantly available and low-cost materials. Therefore, the unit’s overall cost is affordable and will increase adoption rates.
The components, including the electrochemical catalyst, have a long product life of 20-30 years. The company also suggests that its system could work as a renewable energy storage hub, and power could be sold back to the grid when energy prices are high.
Hydrogen consumption in Europe’s energy mix was less than two percent in 2022. However, 96 percent of this hydrogen was produced using natural gas, accompanied by carbon emissions. As Europe looks to increase its hydrogen production to 10 million tonnes, technologies such as the one offered by Battolyser are crucial for the region.
“The sectors that are already using grey hydrogen at the moment, can use the Battolyser® to replace their grey hydrogen with green hydrogen, as well as sectors that are hard to electrify,” said Maarten van Heel, Director of Projects and Engineering of Battolyser Systems to Euro News.
Battolyser systems are scalable and modular, and the company intends to demonstrate this with their 2.5 MW module as early as next year and follow up with a 5 MW system by Q2 of 2025. By late 2026, the company intends to aim for 100-500 MW scale installations with 25 MW modules.
The rollout of Battolysers products will begin in the Netherlands and will be followed up with the rest of Europe.
ABOUT THE EDITOR
Ameya Paleja Ameya is a science writer based in Hyderabad, India. A Molecular Biologist at heart, he traded the micropipette to write about science during the pandemic and does not want to go back. He likes to write about genetics, microbes, technology, and public policy.
