In 2024 Northern Ireland Water could begin using oxygen in its processes produced as a byproduct of green hydrogen, after the electrolyser technology passed milestone tests.
Clean Power Hydrogen (CPH2) announced it had completed an extensive testing and commissioning process for its Membrane-Free Electrolyser (MFE) successfully producing separated hydrogen and oxygen gases at its expected capacity. The company welcomed the assurance that the MFE110 system, which comprises four 125KW stacks, had worked at scale, but it has paused factory acceptance testing to re-evaluate power-down procedures.
After completing final tests, the MFE110 will be shipped to a Northern Ireland Water site where it will undergo site validation, integration and commissioning before beginning commercial production of hydrogen and medical grade oxygen.
Alistair Jinks of NI Water said, “NI Water continues to believe in the potential of CPH2′s innovative electrolyser technology and recognise that significant steps have been taken in proving its capability by running the entire system and producing separated hydrogen and oxygen.
“The opportunity to harness oxygen in treating waste water to optimise existing assets remains a valuable prize not only for NI Water but for the global water industry which must address its harmful climate emissions. At the same time, it remains a priority to demonstrate the potential to produce affordable green hydrogen to evidence its relevance in the next phase of extending renewable electricity generation on the island of Ireland as well as its role in decarbonising transport where battery technology is not a solution.
“It is NI Water’s assessment that whilst challenges remain in proving the logic controls and shutdown procedures, CPH2 will address these in time to ensure delivery to Belfast in early 2024.”