Bright prospect of hydrogen production from electrolytic water
At present, there are three main technical routes for hydrogen production: hydrogen production by reforming fossil energy represented by coal, oil and natural gas (gray hydrogen), hydrogen production by purification of industrial by-products represented by coke oven gas, chlor alkali tail gas and propane dehydrogenation (blue hydrogen), and hydrogen production by renewable energy represented by electrolytic water (green hydrogen).
There are three main hydrogen production technologies by electrolyzing water: alkaline water electrolysis (AE), proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEM) and solid oxide water electrolysis (SOE). However, SOE water electrolysis technology is still in the stage of laboratory research and development.
In terms of alkaline electrolyzed water technology and equipment manufacturing, China's technology level is similar to that of foreign countries, and has the capability of equipment manufacturing and process integration with completely independent intellectual property rights. In terms of PEM hydrogen production technology, domestic research and development is still in the early stage of industrialization.
"At present, China's hydrogen production from electrolytic water is less than 2% of hydrogen production capacity, and there is a lot of room for improvement in the future." An analyst in the new industry of the securities firm told the reporter of the 21st Century Economic Report that the electrolytic water hydrogen production is considered to be the most potential green hydrogen energy supply mode in the future because of its high purity, low impurity gas and easy combination with renewable energy. "According to relevant forecasts, the proportion of hydrogen production from electrolytic water will increase to 10% by 2030."
According to the White Paper on China's Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry (2020), China's hydrogen demand will reach 37.15 million tons in 2030 and 96.9 million tons in 2050. According to analysis, hydrogen production from electrolyzed water will gradually become the main body of hydrogen energy supply in China, accounting for 45% and 70% of the hydrogen energy supply structure in 2040 and 2050 respectively.