Shanghai Electric Advances Green Hydrogen Technology

Shanghai Electric has recently made a big leap in green hydrogen technology with its new Z-series alkaline electrolyzer. This new device is a key part of the company’s plan to reduce carbon emissions in industries like chemicals, transportation, steelmaking, and green energy storage. Wu Liang, the Chief Engineer at Shanghai Bright-H Technology, a subsidiary of Shanghai Electric, explained that the company aims to simplify hydrogen production and lower costs across the industry. However, making green hydrogen economically viable remains a significant challenge.

Shanghai Electric has also developed a megawatt-scale PEM electrolyzer with a capacity of 200 Nm³/h, introduced in October 2023. This technology stands out for its compact, lightweight, and flexible design, making it ideal for hydrogen refueling stations. While this is a big step forward, it’s important to compare this technology with global standards.

The company’s integrated system for “production-storage-fuel-utilization” targets crucial parts of the hydrogen energy chain, but successfully integrating these technologies with existing infrastructure is still complex. Their advancements in high-pressure hydrogen storage and membrane compressors for refueling stations are promising, but their long-term impact will depend on scalability and efficiency.

In June 2023, Shanghai Electric launched a 2000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzer, the largest in China at the time, placing the company as a leader in hydrogen production. However, it’s important to compare this with global leaders to understand its true significance.

Shanghai Electric is also exploring hydrogen applications like green chemistry and hydrogen-blended gas turbines. For example, testing a turbine with over 7% hydrogen at the Datang Haikou power plant is a significant achievement, but it needs to be compared with similar projects worldwide.

The Taonan green methanol project aims to produce one million tons of green methanol annually in three phases, starting with a 250,000-ton project supported by renewable energy. This ambitious project shows Shanghai Electric’s potential in green hydrogen and methanol production, but its success will depend on overcoming technological and economic challenges.