Today's KNOWLEDGE Share: Green Hydrogen via electrolysis:

Today's KNOWLEDGE Share:

Green Hydrogen via electrolysis:

The world's largest electrolyzer in Rjukan, Norway, in 1929, would still be one of the largest electrolyzers, even today in 2023!

This fascinating history showcases Norway's early leadership in harnessing renewable energy for large-scale hydrogen production.

In 1911, the Rjukan Falls Hydroelectric Plant became operational, one of the world's largest hydroelectric power stations. It provided the necessary electricity to power the massive electrolysis facility later built in Rjukan.

Electrolysis, the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electric current, was a nascent technology. With scarce HVDC cables and the abundant electricity available from the hydroelectric plant, utilizing it for hydrogen production was an obvious choice, particularly in conjunction with the Haber-Bosch process.

Engineer and entrepreneur Sam Eyde, co-founder of Norsk Hydro, was the driving force behind this visionary project. Eyde envisioned leveraging renewable hydropower to produce hydrogen through electrolysis, creating valuable chemical products and fertilizers.

The Rjukan site became operational in 1929, and a second site in Glomfjord came online in 1956. Both sites utilized alkaline electrolyzers, similar to today's techniques, but slightly improved and matured over time.

Together, these two sites boasted an impressive installed capacity of 270MW in 1956. It's truly remarkable when you consider it; even today, finding a larger setup is challenging.

If you know of any operational sites that can surpass this capacity, I would be genuinely intrigued to learn about them.This captivating story is rooted in the origins of Nel Hydrogen, the largest Norwegian electrolyzer company.

It highlights Norway's historical contributions to electrolysis technology and is a testament to its ongoing commitment to sustainable hydrogen production.

Green hydrogen produced through electrolysis continues gaining global momentum as a crucial element in transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Norway's early achievements in this field have paved the way for advancements and innovations in electrolysis technology worldwide.

As we move towards a greener and more sustainable future, we must recognize the significant historical milestones that have shaped the landscape of hydrogen production. The legacy of the Rjukan and Glomfjord electrolyzers is a testament to the power of innovation, renewable energy, and the potential of electrolysis to drive the hydrogen economy forward.

It's also important to note the key reason WHY this became a success, the abundance of low-carbon electricity (in this case, stranded electricity)

Source:Terje Hauan

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#hydrogen #electrolysers #hydrogeneconomy