Ohmium, an American hydrogen energy startup founded in 2019, designs, manufactures, and deploys advanced Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer systems. These systems are used to produce green hydrogen on-site by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electrical current, a process that is considered environmentally friendly when powered by renewable energy sources. Ohmium's on-site hydrogen production is aimed at helping customers achieve their sustainable energy goals across industrial, transportation, and energy projects.
Challenges:Â green hydrogen
The Pivotal Role of Hydrogen in a Sustainable Future
Hydrogen (H₂), the most abundant element in the universe, is not just a fundamental building block of stars—it's also a vital ingredient in the synthesis of ammonia. Ammonia production is at the heart of creating a plethora of products that we rely on daily, from the fertilizers that nourish our crops to the plastics that are woven into the fabric of modern life.
Traditionally, the world has leaned heavily on steam methane reforming (SMR) to produce over 60 million tons of hydrogen annually. However, this method comes with a significant environmental cost. It's an energy-intensive process that contributes approximately 2% to the global carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions, releasing between 5 and 9 tons of COâ‚‚ for every ton of hydrogen it generates.
But there's a cleaner path forward: water electrolysis. This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electric current and comes in various forms, including alkaline water electrolyzer (AWE), proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE), and solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC). When these electrolyzers are powered by renewable energy sources—think nuclear, solar, and wind power—the result is "green hydrogen."
Green hydrogen is more than just an eco-friendly alternative; it's a beacon of hope for decarbonizing sectors that have traditionally been challenging to reform. Industries like steel manufacturing, long-distance transportation, and even aviation and shipping, which have long been tethered to fossil fuels, can now envision a greener horizon.
In our quest for a carbon-neutral world, green hydrogen isn't just an option—it's an imperative. As we harness the power of renewables to produce this clean energy carrier, we're paving the way for a sustainable future, one where the sky is no longer the limit, but the starting point for innovation and environmental stewardship.
PEM electrolyzer
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers are one of key technologies for hydrogen production, offering a clean and efficient method to generate hydrogen from water using electricity. This technology is particularly appealing for integrating with renewable energy sources to produce green hydrogen, contributing to the decarbonization of various sectors including transportation, industry, and energy storage.
PEM electrolyzers utilize a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) to conduct protons from the anode to the cathode while insulating the electrodes electrically. At the anode, water is oxidized to produce oxygen, protons, and electrons. The protons are conducted through the membrane to the cathode, where they combine with electrons to produce hydrogen gas. This process is driven by an external power source, typically from renewable energy sources to ensure the hydrogen produced is green.
Ohmium Technology
Ohmium has developed an advanced PEM electrolyzer system that produces pure hydrogen on-site for industrial applications. By recycling the exhaust gas of the industrial hydrogen application process, the system has an improved overall efficiency.
Ohmium uses porous titanium gas diffusion layers on the PEM electrolyzer stack’s anodes. This porous titanium gas diffusion layer is fabricated using a powder technique that is protected by a patent, such as powder metallurgy or tape casting.
Ohmium PEM electrolyzer cell structure
The diagram below depicts the structure of Ohmium PEM electrolyzer cell.
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