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Proton exchange membrane electrolyzers are better suited for producing hydrogen with intermittent energy resources

PEM electrolyzers are more expensive but are better suited for intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and solar because they can get up to full power very quickly.1 PEM electrolyzers can reach full power in under five minutes, whereas alkaline electrolyzers can take up to 50 minutes to run at full power.2 The quick power-up time allows PEM electrolyzers to quickly respond to changing intermittent energy supply conditions.

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Footnotes​

  1. Van Haersma Buma, B. N., Peretto, M., Matar, Z. M., & van de Kaa, G. (2023). Towards renewable hydrogen-based electrolysis: Alkaline vs Proton Exchange Membrane. Heliyon, 9(7). ↩

  2. Martin, P. (2023, July 5). Green hydrogen | Which type of electrolyser should you use? Alkaline, PEM, solid oxide or the latest tech?. Hydrogen Insight. https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/electrolysers/green-hydrogen-which-type-of-electrolyser-should-you-use-alkaline-pem-solid-oxide-or-the-latest-tech-/2-1-1480577 ↩