Enapter has presents the new model of the patented AEM electrolyser – the EL 2.1 – at the International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo 2020 in Tokyo. A year after Enapter introduced its first electrolyser, the new generation hydrogen generator significantly improves the design of its predecessor. The EL 2.1 consumes 8 percent less energy and is significantly smaller, which translates into a 20 percent reduction in space requirement.
Enapter’s unique approach to hydrogen generation is to produce a standardized, scalable and flexible electrolyser. “We are very close to METI’s efficiency goal for 2030 – 10 years ahead of time: today we only need 4.4 kilowatt hours of electricity to produce one cubic metre of hydrogen gas”, announces Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, Chairman at Enapter, and continues: “Demand for hydrogen is expected to grow by a factor of 1000 or more by 2030 – decentralized systems producing hydrogen on site with no transportation cost will make a huge difference.”
A more compact EL 2.1 allows system integrators to deploy the modular electrolyser in all kinds of applications including energy storage, Power-to-X, refuelling, or industrial use. Due to the lower operating and standby power consumption, the energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness of customers’ overall solutions improve.
Enapter also published the latest version of its software defined Energy Management System (EMS) that further simplifies and quickens integration of modules. The EL 2.1 is the first system that is natively using the EMS, enabling the electrolyser into any kind of system setup. The software renders energy systems more efficient, reliable and sustainable through advances in connectivity, data analytics and flow management using industry-grade security via the Enapter Cloud. Schmidt is confident: “Hydrogen and the Japanese concept of Society 5.0 belong together. Autonomy based on Big Data, AI and IoT will drive the hydrogen energy infrastructure. Our modular electrolyser and software approach will play a part in it”, he adds.
