02-03-2022

Honeywell announces new technology for green hydrogen production

Honeywell announced today that it has developed new catalyst-coated membrane (CCMs) technology for Green Hydrogen production and will further test the technology with electrolyzer manufacturers. Green Hydrogen, which is produced using an electrolyzer powered by renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, is expected to play an important role in the energy transition in coming decades with overall hydrogen demand expected to grow 5-7x over the next 30 years according to the Hydrogen Council.The new Honeywell technology focuses on CCMs for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzers.

Honeywell’s latest CCMs have been shown in lab testing to enable higher electrolyzer efficiency and higher electric current density enabled by a breakthrough proprietary high ionic conductivity membrane and high activity catalyst. This is projected to provide a 25% reduction in electrolyzer stack cost.

Honeywell’s Green Hydrogen program leverages decades of R&D and manufacturing experience in developing and manufacturing market-leading membranes and catalysts for gas processing, refining, steel, and petrochemical industries, as well as the experience in the most recent development of novel membranes for battery and power applications.

“Honeywell is a proven leader in developing innovative membrane technologies, and our latest technology has been validated in lab tests by third-party hydrogen electrolyzer technologists,” says Ben Owens, Vice President and General Manager, Honeywell Sustainable Technology Solutions. “By accelerating the development of these high-performance CCMs, Honeywell is contributing to the transition to a hydrogen-based economy.”

Honeywell has been providing innovative hydrogen processing solutions for more than 50 years. The first industrial application of Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) went on stream in 1966. Today, more than 1,000 Honeywell UOP PSA systems have been designed, fabricated, and delivered worldwide, representing about 25 million Nm³/h of pure hydrogen produced.

Honeywell recently committed to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on the company's track record of sharply reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help customers meet their environmental and social goals. About half of Honeywell's new product introduction research and development investment is directed toward products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.