Experimental integration of a foam-based floating photovoltaic (floatovoltaic) system with an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for 5 kW-Scale green hydrogen production
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Authors | Koami Soulemane Hayibo Giorgio Antonini Md Motakabbir Rahman Joshua M. Pearce |
| Location | London, ON, Canada |
| Status | Designed Modelled Prototyped Verified |
| Verified by | FAST |
| Years | |
| Uses | renewable energy |
Strategically scheduling electrolyzers to harness surplus solar photovoltaic (PV) energy decreases reliance on the grid and enhances overall system efficiency. This study experimentally evaluates a 7-kW foam-based FPV integrated with a 27-cell anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer to assess feasibility under off-grid conditions. The methodology involved assembling the FPV modules on a pond, powering the AEM stack via three 2.5 kW inverters and MPPT charge controllers, and recording operational data such as voltage, current, temperature, and gas flow; using a Cerbo-GX monitor, multimeters, rotameters, and liquid-displacement timing. Key findings include a stack-level energy conversion efficiency of 73.3–86.2 % (high heating value basis), a minimum specific energy consumption of 45.77 kWh/kg H2, and hydrogen purity of 99.22 %. System-level electrical efficiency ranged from 66 % to 71 %, with power conversion losses identified at the inverter and power-supply stages. Simulation of electrolyzer scheduled operation only upon surplus PV generation showed improved energy utilization. These results demonstrate the viability of FPV-AEM coupling for decentralized green hydrogen production and highlight the potential for direct DC coupling and enhanced thermal management to further reduce energy losses in future implementations.
Highlights
[edit | edit source]- AEM electrolyzers operate efficiently with battery-backed floating solar PV systems.
- External heating and proper insulation can improve overall system efficiency.
- Solar-powered AEM electrolyzers can achieve an HHV specific energy of 45.77 kWh/kg.
- Direct solar PV DC powering with no inverter can halve AEM electrolyzer energy losses.
- Hydrogen appears as a promising energy storage solution in off-grid solar PV systems.
See also
[edit | edit source]- Design and thermal-energy performance analysis of foam-based floating photovoltaic systems in a cold climate: experimental results from a 7 kW floatovoltaics in Canada
- Performance of Off-grid Floating Photovoltaic-Battery System Powering an Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen Production
- Comparative techno-environmental analysis of grey, blue, green/yellow and pale-blue hydrogen production
- Open-Source DC-DC Converter Enabling Direct Integration of Solar Photovoltaics with Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzer for Green Hydrogen Production
- Open-source Hardware Design of Modular Solar DC Nanogrid
- Modular Open Source Solar Photovoltaic-Powered DC Nanogrids with Efficient Energy Management System
- Evaluation of plasma-reaction-driving capability in dielectric barrier discharge systems: Insights from CH4 splitting
Floatovoltaics
[edit | edit source]The Western Innovation for Renewable Energy (WIRED) system is currently under construction to test out new open source methods to reduce PV systems costs and enable novel forms of floatovoltaics, BIPV and agrivoltaics including the world's first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
| Authors | Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Organizations | FAST, Western |
| Cite as | Joshua M. Pearce (2025–2026). "Experimental integration of a foam-based floating photovoltaic (floatovoltaic) system with an anion exchange membrane electrolyzer for 5 kW-Scale green hydrogen production". Appropedia. Retrieved August 17, 2026. |
- Solar
- Publications
- London
- Canada
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- Floatovoltaics
- Solar power
- Solar energy
- Photovoltaics
- Sustainable development
- SDG07 Affordable and clean energy
- SDG08 Decent work and economic growth
- SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure
- 2025
- FAST Completed
- FAST methods
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- Hydrogen