Technical evaluation of the flexibility of water electrolysis systems to increase energy flexibility: A review

Abstract

The goal of achieving water electrolysis on a gigawatt scale faces numerous challenges regarding technological feasibility and market application. Here, the flexibility of operation scenarios, such as load changes and capacity, of electrolysis plays a key role. This raises the question of how flexible electrolysis systems currently are and what possibilities there are to increase flexibility. In order to be able to answer this question in the following, a systematic literature research was carried out with the aim to show the current technical possibilities to adapt load and capacity of electrolysis technologies and to determine limits. The result of the systematic literature research is an overview matrix of the electrolysis types AEL, PEMEL, HTEL and AEMEL already applied in the market. Technical data on the operation of the respective electrolysis stacks as well as details and materials for the respective stack structure (cathode, anode, electrolyte) were summarized. The flexibility of the individual technologies is addressed by expressing it in values such as load flexibility and startup-times. The overview matrix contains values from various sour1ces in order to make electrolysis comparable at the stack level and to be able to make statements about flexibility. The result of the overview article shows the still open need for research and development to make electrolysis more flexible.