An Investigative Study for the Commercialization of Anion Exchange Membrane-based Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell

Renewable energy storage in the form of hydrogen is favored because vast quantities of energy can be stored for both short and long periods of time, and hydrogen can be decoupled from demand. Low-temperature water electrolysis is a feasible method for storing seasonal energy in the form of hydrogen over an extended period of time. In addition, a fuel cell aids in the conversion of hydrogen to electricity. When the electrolyzer and the fuel cell units are combined, a discrete regenerative fuel cell is formed. A combination of the electrolyzer and fuel cell processes in one device is referred to as a unitized regenerative fuel cell. When renewable electricity is available, the unitized regenerative fuel cell serves as a storage facility for energy by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. When wind or solar resources are not available or when electricity is required, the hydrogen and oxygen are then recombined to produce water, thereby providing electricity to the grid. The unitized regenerative fuel cell is currently the most cost effective long-term seasonal energy storage solution available. The primary advantage of unitized regenerative fuel cells is the reduced capex associated with the consolidation of two electrolyzer and fuel cell stacks into one. The anion exchange membrane-based unitized regenerative fuel cell is a promising option for large-scale renewable energy storage and hydrogen generation. It is concluded with mention of some challenges and then suggestions for potential actions relevant to the development of long-lasting anion exchange membrane-based unitized regenerative fuel cells.