ALCHEMR, INC. — Department of Energy SBIR Phase I: 09a

Description

Off-shore wind is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade. However, if the HVDC lines and grid interconnection queues are not adequately accelerated it could lead to underutilized assets. By co-locating water electrolyzers off-shore, the wind developers can fully use capture an additional revenue stream of producing hydrogen for sale to the chemicals and/or fuel cell markets. Present designs use PEM electrolyzers for this purpose, but the PEM electrolyzers contain over $1,000,000 of precious metals, which makes them a theft target. Also, PEM electrolyzers need very pure water, which adds significant system complexity and cost to off-shore deployments. The objective here is to develop electrolyzers with no precious metals that can run directly on seawater and load-following to match the output of the wind turbine. If successful, this will lead to a system that is tailored for off-shore use. Alchemr already sells water electrolyzers based on anion exchange membranes. The cells have also undergone 12,000 hours of continuous testing and show VI characteristics similar to those of PEM electrolyzers, with no precious metals. The cells already contain many of the components of seawater, Na+ or K+, and Cl-. The high pH suppresses metal corrosion and scale formation. In Phase I, Alchemr’s scientists will test the operation of the systems running directly on seawater. We will do both steady-state and transient experiments to see how well the cells can follow duty cycles of off-shore wind farms. If this is successful, it will enable a Phase II effort where the cells are scaled up into stacks that can be offered for sale and tested at pilot- scale facilities with our potential customers. Upon success, Alchemr will be producing and electrolyzer designed for coupling with off-shore wind farms. Co-location with renewable resources will reduce the production and transportation cost to facilities like ports and chemical plants located near the shore. Manufacturing electrolyzers in the U.S. will create new jobs and revenues while boosting energy security for U.S. companies. It is also likely that we will be able to create and sell small AEM electrolyzer units to companies looking for low-cost alternatives to delivered hydrogen cylinders.