Image credit: Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy and the University of Vaasa have signed an agreement to collaborate on research aimed at improving the energy and cost efficiency of hydrogen production by optimizing transformer performance and capturing waste heat.

Electricity is the largest operating cost in green hydrogen plants, accounting for roughly 70% of total costs. Currently, about one-third of electricity supplied is lost as heat or electrical losses. The project, Optimized Electric Power Chain for Electrolyser Systems (OEPCES), seeks to reduce these losses by improving transformer efficiency and integrating waste heat recovery, which could be used for district heating or internal plant processes.

The research focuses on rectifier transformers, which convert AC to DC for electrolysis. These transformers face demanding loads, high peak power, rapid transients, and strict power quality requirements. Capturing heat that is currently wasted through cooling systems will allow more efficient operation and reduce energy consumption.

Matti Vaattovaara, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy, said:
"In industrial-scale green hydrogen production, electrolysis and its associated power supply represent rapidly developing new technology, and we want to be at the forefront of this development. We are delighted to have the University of Vaasa joining us in developing world-class solutions that improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and accelerate the adoption of clean energy. This development work marks a concrete step toward more sustainable and competitive hydrogen production."

Mika Grundström, Vice-Rector for Research at the University of Vaasa, added:
"The energy transition and the new opportunities it brings across different sectors make research projects more important than ever and are essential for understanding the overall system. Modelling and the ability to reliably analyse complex systems and explore alternative models are key objectives that enable the creation of new knowledge and the development of competitive solutions to these emerging needs. Green hydrogen production and the new solutions related to it are a central part of systems research, where the multidisciplinary expertise of the University of Vaasa’s research groups can be fully utilised."

The OEPCES project is part of the HEROES (Heat and Energy Recovery Of Electrolyser Systems) initiative led by VTT and the University of Vaasa, which aims to reduce electricity consumption in industrial-scale hydrogen production by up to 35% and raise net efficiency to 85%, compared to current systems averaging 50–70%.

Hitachi Energy will support the project across all phases, from engineering and implementation to lifecycle optimization. The company has supplied the main electrical system for Finland’s first industrial-scale hydrogen plant in Harjavalta, built for P2X Solutions.

Source: fuelcellsworks.com