What is electrolysis?

What is electrolysis? Electrolysis is the method by which hydrogen is produced using renewable energy.

It’s the way in which hydrogen is manufactured in order to earn its ‘green’ medal.

The process of electrolysis uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and this takes place in a unit called an electrolyser.

Electrolysers can vary in size, from large production plants attached directly to renewable electricity facilities (such as a wind farm), down to small units for smaller distribution requirements.

How does an electrolyser work?

An Electrolyser consists of a cathode and an anode separated by an electrolyte. Different types of electrolyte materials are used, meaning that electrolysers don’t all work in precisely the same way, but the overall process is the same.

Electrolysis plants can be powered by wind or solar energy; the hydrogen that is produced is then completely carbon free.

If the source of electricity being used for electrolysis is renewable (ie wind, solar, hydro etc) then the Hydrogen it produces results in zero greenhouse gas emissions.  This is how hydrogen as an energy source has earned its green credentials.

“The majority of the electricity produced by the UK’s national grid is made using technology that creates greenhouse gas emissions“

The majority of the electricity produced by the UK’s national grid is made using technology that creates greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore powering an electrolyser using electricity from the grid is neither efficient or green.

So when looking at the benefits of hydrogen as an energy provider, it’s important to consider where the energy has come from to make it, and how green that source is. Renewable electricity powers the process of electrolysis in order to create renewable ‘green’ hydrogen, which can then be used to power transport systems, industrial plants and home heating, all with zero emissions.