SoCalGas, Evoloh research project improves AEM electrolyser tech

US gas distribution utility Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas) and electrolyser start-up Evoloh Inc have completed a joint research project to improve the latter's anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology and its manufacturing process.

The project has achieved enhancements that could reduce the capital costs of the electrolyser technology by about 25%, the companies said on Wednesday. Their joint work was able to deliver a 15% increase in hydrogen production efficiency to Evoloh’s Nautilus series electrolyser stack.

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SoCalGas supported the project via its Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) Programme.

"Innovative projects like this can help significantly reduce electrolyser system costs and production time and enable clean renewable hydrogen production to become more cost competitive with traditional energy sources," said Jawaad Malik, chief strategy and sustainability officer at SoCalGas.

Evoloh, whose backers include Breakthrough Energy, is developing AEM electrolyser technology. The company aims to produce 3.75 GW in electrolyser stacks per year by 2025 in its manufacturing centre in Massachusetts and up to 15 GW in 2027. Later this year, it plans to start megawatt-scale testing at its new headquarters in Santa Clara, California.