The 2,400 psi milestone was achieved while at the same time also increasing the hydrogen production by a factor of four from previous high pressure hydrogen generation systems. The 2,400 psi advancement is also in line with Proton’s ultimate goal of generating hydrogen at 5,000 psi, without external mechanical compression and with the same reliability and durability.

The HOGEN HP 10 unit can produce 0.26 Nm³/hr (0.57 kg/24 hr) and the HOGEN HP 40 unit can produce 1.05 Nm³/hr (2.28 kg/24 hr) at 2,400 psi (165 bar, 16.5 MPa).

The ability to produce hydrogen at elevated pressure will help reduce the hydrogen storage footprint in applications where space is a premium. Additionally, producing high pressure hydrogen without generating high pressure oxygen provides a safer, more cost effective on-site hydrogen solution, according to Proton. The elimination of a mechanical compressor in the system makes it possible to reduce the overall capital cost and operating cost of the installation.

Proton’s commercial PEM-based hydrogen generation systems are capable of running continuously at up to 400 psi and typically require external mechanical compression to achieve higher pressures. Proton’s current PEM electrolysis systems are utilized across a variety of industries, including power, military and aerospace and laboratories.

Proton has successfully developed and deployed the new high pressure systems to strategic partners both domestically and internationally for evaluation, one of which has been testing successfully for more than a year. With the ability to increase durability, reliability and efficiency, this development has potential across industries that require or could benefit from high pressure hydrogen.

Separately, Proton noted that it has worked to achieve a 20 percent improvement in efficiency of its commercial PEM platform. At the same time, additional efforts aimed at cost reduction of the cell stack membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) have netted almost a 30 percent savings in material cost. This is significant because the MEA represents the single highest cost component within the electrochemical stack.