Electrolyzers for Hydrogen Production : Technical and Economic Characteristics - ESMAP Technical Report

Overview & Synopsis

This report is a state-of-the-art overview of electrolyzer technologies and suppliers. It is written with project developers, investors, and policy makers in mind, the very ones evaluating and facilitating progress toward the final investment decision (FID). The analysis suggests that no single best electrolyzer technology exists. Technology choice must consider end-use application and power supply characteristics, aspects that are further elaborated in this report. Prepared under the 10 GW Lighthouse Initiative in support of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s Breakthrough Agenda, the analysis draws on interviews with more than 50 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and project developers. These interviews offer new insights that may diverge, at times, from conventional assumptions found in academic literature or social media. Much of this reporting divergence reflects the rapid innovation and lack of harmonized global data.