W. L. Gore and ITM Power release electrolyser findings
Published by Willow Munz,
Editorial Assistant
Global Hydrogen Review,
W. L. Gore & Associates has announced, in collaboration with ITM Power, the release of improved long-term durability data in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) detailed in new white paper titled Ultra-Low Degradation in PEM Electrolysis: Enabling Scalable and Efficient Green Hydrogen Production. The companies present results from two PEMWE prototypes tested under differential pressure detailing new benchmarks exceeding international performance targets in PEMWE, a critical technology for scalable green hydrogen production.
“We are excited to share these findings at a time when publicly available durability data sets remain limited and the growing need for greater energy independence is critical to driving innovation,” said Lutz Biewer, Executive Vice President, Global Sales and Business Development, Gore Clean Energy.
The prototypes were tested under differential pressure continuously. The first design demonstrated exceptional durability and chemical stability, achieving an irreversible voltage decay rate equivalent to less than 1% performance degradation per year, meeting or exceeding international 2030 performance targets.
A second, thinner membrane design was evaluated for more than 11 000 hours incorporating a 50-micrometer membrane and an alternative recombination catalyst design to further improve efficiency. Despite its reduced thickness, this design delivered stable and safe operation with a voltage decay rate 40% lower than 2030 international degradation targets, alongside projected operating lifetimes approaching 80 000 hours.
In addition, the thinner-membrane design demonstrated energy consumption between 48.3 and 49.5 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen, representing an estimated 3 - 7% efficiency improvement compared with typical PEMWE systems in operation today.
Collectively, these performance gains contribute to significant opportunities for reducing both capital and operating costs in future PEMWE deployments. Higher current density at lower power consumption, combined with longer membrane lifetimes, supports improved system economics as electrolyser capacity scales.
“The findings detailed in the white paper underscore the role of cross-company collaboration in accelerating clean energy innovation,” shared Jason Manthey, Global Technical Leader, Gore Clean Energy. “By simultaneously improving efficiency, safety, and longevity, we advanced the technical foundation required for scalable economically viable green hydrogen production.”
Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/25062026/w-l-gore-and-itm-power-release-electrolyser-findings/