Sheffield-based clean energy company ITM Power is to collaborate with Italian energy conversion company FRIEM to develop a standard Power Supply Unit design optimised for ITM’s 2MW Plug & Play electrolysis container.
Based on state-of-the-art electrotechnical solutions, the development will leverage each company’s expertise and experience from projects executed both jointly and independently. The aim is to further improve the performance of the PSU by closer integration with ITM’s electrolyser technology. Also, the standardisation aims to further drive overall system reliability, while lowering cost.
ITM is a leader in the design and manufacture of electrolysis solutions based on proton exchange membrane technology. Electrolysis requires electrical energy for the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. Power conversion is therefore a key function of electrolysis systems, and it is necessary to ensure a high level of integration.
FRIEM is a leader in electric energy conversion systems with 70 years of experience as a supplier into industrial applications. The PSU converts AC power supplied from either the electricity grid or directly from renewable generators to DC power in a form suitable for the electrolysis process. The characteristics of the PSU therefore contribute to the performance of the overall system.
Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM Power, said: “Today’s announcement with FRIEM follows the communication of our collaborations with Mott and Gore, all of which support ITM to cement our technology leadership in PEM electrolysis. A closer integration of electrolyser and PSU will further advance overall system performance and drive down cost.”
