Utilisation of waste heat from PEM electrolysers

Unlocking local optimisation

Journal article (2023)

Authors

E. van der Roest KWR Water Research Institute, Sanitary Engineering - CEG
Ron Bol Allied Waters B.V.
T.W. Fens Economics of Technology and Innovation - TPM
A.J.M. van Wijk KWR Water Research Institute, Energy and Industry
Research Group
Sanitary Engineering (CEG) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2023 E. van der Roest, Ron Bol, T.W. Fens, A.J.M. van Wijk
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.03.374
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Published Date

2023

Language

English

Faculty

Civil Engineering & Geosciences

Department

Water Management

Research Group

Sanitary Engineering

Abstract

Recovery of heat from electrolysers is potentially interesting to increase the total system efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and increase the economic feasibility of both hydrogen and heat production. This study examines different designs for the utilisation of (waste) heat from a 2.5 MWel polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser. Redundancy is important in the design, to ensure safe operation regardless of the heat demand of the heat consumer. We analysed cases with local heat consumption (with/without a heat pump) and coupling with a district heating network (DHN). Overall, 14–15% of the electricity input to the stack can be utilised by a heat consumer, increasing the total system efficiency to 90% (HHV) with CO2-savings of 0.08 (DHN)-0.28 (direct use) tonne CO2/MWhheat, used. We performed a first-order techno-economic analysis showing that the levelized costs of the electrolyser heat (8.4–36.9 €/MWh) fall within the range of other industrial heat sources and below lower-temperature heat sources.