Water electrolysis is seen as a key factor in establishing green hydrogen as the energy carrier of the future. A significant expansion of electrolysis capacity is underway in Europe. In addition to the use of alkaline electrolysers, membrane electrolysers have been increasingly used since 2015. However, these electrolysers are not yet mature enough to meet all the requirements for economic operation. In addition, the production process and the average lifetime of cells and stacks are not yet at a level that meets the requirements of the energy market.
We study the behaviour of membrane electrolysis cells at different scales - from laboratory to MW scale. Targeted experiments are used to analyse ageing phenomena within the individual components in order to make the technology economically viable. Of particular interest are the mechanisms and factors affecting the performance of the membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the heart of each electrolysis cell. Identifying the main causes of lifetime limitations and optimising the manufacture of electrolysers is essential to enable electrolysis technology as a key component of the energy transition.