SHINe story: Clyde Hydrogen

Innovation and opportunity

In conventional electrolysers, hydrogen and oxygen are produced at the same time, in the same unit. Clyde's system splits this into two steps: 

• A step that uses electricity and water to "charge" a liquid mediator
• A separate step, with no power input, that releases hydrogen from the charged mediator, which is then recirculated to be charged again 

Because the two gases are produced separately, the system avoids the gas-mixing risk that limits how flexibly established electrolyser technologies can run. It can also deliver hydrogen at high pressure without a mechanical compressor. The charged mediator acts as a built-in, non-gaseous store of hydrogen that can be held in conventional tanks at atmospheric pressure. 

More broadly, Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and alkaline electrolysers together hold close to 100% of the market. However, both face degradation and operating challenges when powered by intermittent or variably priced renewable electricity. 

This creates a clear opening for Clyde. This includes in settings such as constrained wind, behind-the-meter renewables, off-grid and islanded sites – as well as industrial or refuelling applications requiring a steady hydrogen supply from a variable power source.

How SHINe supported Clyde

Through the SHINe commercial support programme, the SHINe team carried out an independent assessment of the commercial case for Clyde's decoupled electrolyser. This compared the technology against incumbent PEM and alkaline systems. The work focused on where Clyde's technology creates real value for customers and what evidence is needed to prove it. 

Specific outcomes from the assessment include: 

• Comparing Clyde’s system design, performance and costs with established technologies
• Assessing where flexible or variably priced renewable electricity gives Clyde a competitive advantage
• Analysing the economics of storing hydrogen in Clyde's liquid mediator, compared with compressed hydrogen storage at larger volumes
• Drawing on customer and stakeholder insights to identify priority target markets 

The analysis found that Clyde's technology has commercial potential over incumbents, particularly where renewable power is intermittent or variably priced. Additionally, it found that the liquid mediator can be more economical to store than hydrogen at large volumes. 

Clyde now has clearer value propositions for both handling flexible electricity inputs and large-scale hydrogen storage. Clyde now also has a set of priority target markets and a roadmap of next steps.

Clyde’s next steps

Building on SHINe’s commercial work, Clyde’s next steps include progressing towards a commercial demonstrator by confirming its location and identifying an appropriate hydrogen off taker. 

Alongside this, the team will continue developing techno-economic models to demonstrate the operation and value of Clyde’s decoupled system against incumbent technologies. This is alongside developing an hourly operating model against PEM and alkaline systems.

Clyde will also continue to test and refine its proposition with priority customers. It will use real electricity and hydrogen demand data to inform future system design and commercial opportunities. 

As the technology progresses towards larger-scale deployment, Clyde plans to grow the team to develop its scale-up plans. This includes establishing a new location for the build and trial of the next stage of products.