Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant

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  • Clausthal University of Technology
  • Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH)
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Original languageEnglish
Article number2300135
Number of pages19
JournalAdvanced Energy and Sustainability Research
Volume5
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 6 Apr 2024

Abstract

This study performs a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of a 5 MW proton exchange membrane water electrolysis plant. The analysis follows a thorough engineering-based bottom-up design based on the electrochemical model of the system. Three scenarios are analyzed comprising a state-of-the-art (SoA) plant operated with the German electricity grid-mix, a SoA plant operated with a completely decarbonized energy system, and a future development plant electrolyzer with reduced energy and material demand, operated in a completely decarbonized energy system. The results display a global warming potential of 34 kg CO2-eq. kg-H2−1 and indicate a reduction potential of 89% when the plant is operated in a decarbonized energy system. A further reduction of 9% can be achieved by the technological development of the plant. Due to the reduced impacts of operation in a completely decarbonized energy system, the operation at locations with large offshore wind electricity capacity is recommended. In the construction phase, the stacks, especially the anode catalyst iridium, bipolar plates, and porous transport layers, are identified as dominant sources of the environmental impact. A sensitivity analysis shows that the environmental impact of the construction phase increases with a decreasing amount of operational full load hours of the plant.

Keywords

    environmental impacts, hydrogen, life cycle assessment, polymer exchange membrane, water electrolysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Sustainable Development Goals

Cite this

Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant. / Gerhardt-Mörsdorf, Janis; Peterssen, Florian; Burfeind, Paula et al.
In: Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2300135, 06.04.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Gerhardt-Mörsdorf, J, Peterssen, F, Burfeind, P, Benecke, M, Bensmann, B, Hanke-Rauschenbach, R & Minke, C 2024, 'Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant', Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, vol. 5, no. 4, 2300135. https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202300135
Gerhardt-Mörsdorf, J., Peterssen, F., Burfeind, P., Benecke, M., Bensmann, B., Hanke-Rauschenbach, R., & Minke, C. (2024). Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research, 5(4), Article 2300135. https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202300135
Gerhardt-Mörsdorf J, Peterssen F, Burfeind P, Benecke M, Bensmann B, Hanke-Rauschenbach R et al. Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant. Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research. 2024 Apr 6;5(4):2300135. doi: 10.1002/aesr.202300135
Gerhardt-Mörsdorf, Janis ; Peterssen, Florian ; Burfeind, Paula et al. / Life Cycle Assessment of a 5 MW Polymer Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis Plant. In: Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research. 2024 ; Vol. 5, No. 4.
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AU - Bensmann, Boris

AU - Hanke-Rauschenbach, Richard

AU - Minke, Christine

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