Green Hydrogen Electrolyzer |ForumIAS

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Source- This post is based on the article “Finland, India discuss hydrogen electrolyzer production in India” published in “Live mint” on 23 November 2023.

Why in the News?

Finland and India recently discussed manufacturing green hydrogen electrolyzer in India.

What is Green Hydrogen Electrolyzer?

What is it?

1. A normal Hydrogen Electrolyzer is an electrochemical device that use electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
2. Green hydrogen electrolyzer uses electricity generate from renewable sources to power the electrolysis process, by means of which hydrogen is obtained from water.
3. One of the world’s largest electrolysers is located in Fukushima, Japan, at the site of the well-known nuclear disaster.

Types

Although several types of electrolyzers are in use today, the most common ones are polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and alkaline electrolysis cells (AECs).

1. A PEM hydrogen electrolyzer decomposes water using a solid polymer membrane that allows protons to transport across and blocks electron flow. The hydrogen protons that cross the membrane form H2 on the cathode side. It is also known as a proton exchange membrane electrolyzer.

Source- PEM electrolyzer — Source- Wikipedia

2. Alkaline water electrolysis (alkaline electrolysis cells) is a type of electrolyzer that is characterized by having two electrodes operating in a liquid alkaline electrolyte solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH).
– These electrodes are separated by a diaphragm, separating the product gases and transporting the hydroxide ions (OH−) from one electrode to the other.