GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION DEMONSTRTION UNIT

_Dr Shawn Gouws

Green hydrogen is generated by the splitting of water by utilizing an electrolyzer connected through a process that uses renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydropower to power the electrolysis. This process is considered environmentally friendly because it emits no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, unlike other hydrogen production methods that utilize fossil fuels. Green hydrogen is one of the important focal points of global transition energy strategies, especially in processes where decarbonatization processes are difficult to accomplish, such as in heavy industries like steel and cement, and aviation. 

At the Nelson Mandela University, a Hydrogen forum was established in 2022 between various departments: Chemistry (Prof Tshentu & Dr Gouws), HRTEM (Prof Jaco Olivier), Physics Photovoltaics (Prof E Van Dyk), eNtsa (Mr. Andrew Young), and Dean of Engineering Prof Sheldon. To strategize and collaborate with Dr Ossie Franks and Prof Swartz to align the Mandela University hydrogen forum with the HySA roadmap for the transition that needs to take place in the Eastern Cape between academics, industry, and the private sector.

Large quantities of industrial hydrogen are produced from fossil fuels, leading to a large carbon footprint that slowly destroys our planet. Therefore, a need arises to reduce the carbon footprint in numerous industrial processes, such as methanation, methanol, and ammonia.

At InnoVenton, a small production unit to produce green hydrogen is currently under construction; this initiative stems from years of electrocatalysis research contributions by MSc and BSc honours students. Funding was awarded from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and seed funding and NRF funding was utilized to purchase the container and electrolyzer infrastructure to build and commission the plant.

Dr Shawn Gouws and his group of students are investigating the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer route to produce green hydrogen for these industrial processes. We are investigating and characterizing several possible catalyst combinations using iridium as a base catalyst for the oxidation evolution reaction that can be used in the membrane electrode assembly of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer. Although PEM has several advantages, such as high current densities, it pairs well with other renewable energies, such as solar or wind, low gas permeability, and faster hydrogen production with minimum environmental waste. A disadvantage, however, is the capex expense of utilizing PGMs such as iridium and platinum—as well as acid corrosion components.

Output on this research during 2023-2024:

Conference outputs

• S Gouws, 75^th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, 18-23 August 2024, Montreal, Canada. Characterization of OER catalysts for green hydrogen production via PEM water electrolytes.
• S Gouws, 4th Edition of Chemistry World Conference (Chemistry, 2024) - 17th-19th of June France, Characterization of Ir-based catalysts for PEM electrolyzer.
• J Mackay, and S Gouws, Virtual international conference on Chemistry and its Applications, Electrochemical characterization of binary metal oxide catalysts to reduce PGM content on proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers, VCCA, Mauritius 7 – 11 August 2023.

National

• Mackay, J, Gouws, S and Ferg E. “Synthesis and characterization of electro-catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction to produce green hydrogen via PEMWE,” 34^th Annual Catalysis Society of South Africa (CATSA) Conference, 3^rd – 6^th November 2024, Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensberg.

• Mackay, J and Gouws S. “Characterization of OER catalysts for green hydrogen production via PEM water electrolysis” [Poster], Research week – Advancing the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, 9 – 13 September 2024, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha (PE), Eastern Cape.
• S Gouws, The 6^th International Symposium on Electrochemistry, Green Hydrogen Production from PEM Electrolyser: A characterization of Oxidative Evolution Reaction Catalysts, University Johannesburg, 3-6 April 2023.
• South Africa Chemical Convention 44^th, 8-13 Jan 2023 abstract accepted, Abstract No: ABR-2068 Title: Characterization of PEM Electrolyser Oxidative Evolution Reaction Catalysts Theme: Industrial Status of abstract: Accepted for poster presentation

Dr Shawn Gouws with his research group; Baxolise Ntsheyiya (BSC Hon), Anele Nzimeni (BSc Hon) and Jason Mackay (MSc).

Nelson Mandela University Research week.  The poster presentation session with Baxolise Ntsheyiya (BSC Hon), Anele Nzimeni (BSc Hon), Jason Mackay (MSc) and Dr Shawn Gouws.

The Green Hydrogen Project Facility at InnoVenton, Nelson Mandela University.