The efficiency of electrolysers will be explored in order to generate cost-competitive green hydrogen with the creation of a Partnership Research Chair at the Université of Québec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR).
The Partnership Research Chair in green hydrogen production focus on developing innovative and efficient materials and systems for green hydrogen production in collaboration with Innergex Renewable Energy
Optimising the efficiency of electrolysis could be crucial in scaling the hydrogen economy and support the adoption of the clean energy carrier by making it cost-competitive with other alternative fuels.
Green hydrogen is also capable of decarbonising several hard-to-abate sectors and thus is seen as the perfect complement to renewable energy.
The Chair’s research program will aim to reduce the use of these critical and very expensive metals and possibly replace them with other elements more available, affordable and strategic for Canada.
This could then lead to a new generation of electrolysers that are low-cost, without compromising on performance and durability.
The partnership will also look to develop a Quebec and Canadian hydrogen value chain, from the extraction of metals to the production of electrolysers and green hydrogen on Canadian soil.
Professor Bruno Pollet of the Université of Québec at Trois-Rivières, said,”To produce green hydrogen that does not come from fossil sources, we use water electrolysis. This process makes it possible to separate the water molecule, thanks to an electric current, to generate hydrogen and oxygen.
“The device used for this operation – which does not emit CO2 or unwanted particulates – is an electrolyser. The main objective of the Innergex Chair is to develop and manufacture novel materials for the next generation of electrolysers that are more efficient, more durable and cheaper.
“We expect to be able to commercialise these new materials within five years.”
