ENEOS has worked to scale up electrolyzers using Direct MCH® technology in order to mass produce MCH derived from renewable energy. The operation of this demonstration plant is a part of this effort.
The 150 kW electrolyzer consists of stacked electrodes with a surface area of three square meters, realizing increased efficiency in MCH production.
The demonstration plant will produce green MCH by combining the medium-sized electrolyzer with a 250 kW solar power system in Queensland. With the aim of maximizing production efficiency, the plant will confirm the durability of the electrolyzer under subtropical conditions as well as develop optimal operation and control technologies for it when plant operation is adjusted to match fluctuations in solar power during the approximately eight-month-long demonstration period from February to September 2023.
Additionally, during the demonstration period, MCH equivalent to approximately 2–3 tons of hydrogen for 400 to 600 fuel cell vehicles will be produced and transported to Japan, where hydrogen will be extracted from MCH in ENEOS’s Central Technical Research Laboratory.
ENEOS will use the knowledge gained from this demonstration plant to develop a larger-sized 5 MW electrolyzer for commercialization by FY2025.
