Green hydrogen production via reverse electrodialysis and assisted reverse electrodialysis electrolyser: Experimental analysis and preliminary economic assessment

Abstract

In the climate changing context, hydrogen is leading the energy transition path. The present work focuses on the green hydrogen production exploiting salinity gradients via Reverse Electrodialysis (RED), in short-circuit condition (REDSC), and Assisted RED (ARED), studied for the first time in hydrogen production as an improvement of the low current densities generated by RED. An extensive experimental campaign was carried out by feeding a RED stack with different salinity gradients and testing short-circuit-RED and Assisted RED operative conditions. Hydrogen was produced successfully with ∼100 % Faradic Efficiency (FE) and productivity up to 1.7 mol h−1 m−2. Also, the technology was compared with similar technologies and with the most established state-of-the-art electrolysers to identify advantages and disadvantages of the proposed route. Finally, a preliminary economic analysis was carried out and a minimum Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) of 3.2 € kg−1H2 was found, thus leaving room for further studies.