Study: power supply losses of electrolyser can be reduced - up to 60 % off the price
A recent doctoral study at LUT University found ways to make green hydrogen production more efficient and significantly more competitive.

Lauri Järvinen's PhD research at LUT University investigated the electrical operation of water electrolysers used in hydrogen production and the impact of their power sources on process efficiency and controllability. Improving the power supply can improve the competitiveness of green hydrogen compared to fossil hydrogen.
Järvinen investigated how ripple, or ripple waves, caused by power sources affect the operation of electrolysers. The knowledge gained from this research can be used to improve power sources to minimise the losses caused by the dynamic driving of electrolysers. The price per kilogram can be reduced to around three euros.
Water electrolysis uses electricity to break down water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. This is a well-known technology, but so far it accounts for only 0.1% of hydrogen production. The main reason is price: fossil hydrogen produced from natural gas currently costs around €1-2 per kilo, while green hydrogen produced by electrolysis and renewable energy costs around €4-8 per kilo.
"In simulations published by our research team, a hydrogen price of €3 per kilo was achieved in a fully renewable energy plant where the electricity fed to the electrolysers is produced entirely by solar and wind power," says Järvinen.
The cheaper the electricity available, the more competitive the technology of water electrolysis becomes. Renewable energy sources allow for very cheap electricity production. The cost is also affected by the price of the electrolyser.