which give the stack builder a unique selling proposition will be in high demand. To ensure stack builders and electrolyser system OEMs continue to stand out in the long term, they may opt to acquire the critical component manufacturers that can make a genuine difference to their market offer. Alternatively, they may seek to bring emerging component-level technologies in-house through an exclusive licence agreement to strengthen their competitive position. Many critical components for electrolysers are based on products relevant to other sectors. For example, woven, knitted, and sintered meshes are used for filters in the energy and chemical sectors and as components in electrolyser stacks. The tail may, therefore, also begin to wag the dog, with leading critical component manufacturers who enjoy a strong and diverse revenue stream acquiring electrolyser stack builders to add value to their components.
that their innovative technologies, as yet unproven at relevant commercial scale with external customers, will enjoy market success. Investment in demonstration projects may be required, and at 50 MW scale, this comes with a heavy price tag that only the bigger players can afford. If investor funding or parent company patience runs out before big orders are signed, these emerging product lines may be cut or the innovations sold on for others to deploy. Critical components make the difference With the exception of true paradigm shifters, such as Hysata, it is difficult to identify key performance indicator (KPI) differences for many of the ‘standard’ players. Some essential KPIs are efficiency, stack life, minimum turn- down, and a permissible number of ‘offs’. This technological convergence is especially true when looking at pressurised PEM and pressurised alkaline stacks and systems (see Figure 7 ). For the few electrolyser builders who will survive, innovative critical components
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Stephen B Harrison sbh@sbh4.de
www.decarbonisationtechnology.com
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