Advancing Hydrogen Production with High‑Efficiency Solid Oxide and PEM Electrolyzers: A Comparative Performance Study

Achieving high efficiency hydrogen production is critical for scaling clean hydrogen to decarbonize energy systems. While conventional alkaline electrolyzers remain widely deployed, recent advancements in solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC) technology demonstrate the highest energy efficiency reported to date by effectively coupling high temperature heat with electrical input. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers optimized with advanced catalyst materials (e.g., Ir, Ru, or emerging non precious alternatives) also exhibit leading performance among commercially viable low temperature systems. This paper reviews the operational principles, efficiency enhancing strategies, and comparative performance of SOEC and advanced PEM electrolyzers. Key performance indicators including electrical to hydrogen efficiency, operating voltage, and catalyst behavior under real conditions are analyzed. The review highlights that SOECs, particularly when integrated with waste heat or renewable heat sources, achieve superior energy efficiency, while high performance PEM systems offer scalability and flexible load response. These insights can guide future development of electrolyzers to reduce energy consumption and improve economic competitiveness in hydrogen production.

کلیدواژه ها:

Hydrogen production ، water electrolysis ، high-efficiency electrolyzers ، SOEC electrolyzers ، catalyst optimization