What batteries and hydrogen have in common:
Modular technologies
Batteries and electrolysers for hydrogen production are both small‑sized, modular technologies that are potentially well-suited for mass manufacturing.
Advanced technologies
The progress of battery technology is more advanced than that of electrolysers, with the cost of lithium-ion batteries in particular having decreased thanks to higher production volumes. The scale up of electrolysers manufacturing, on the other hand, is at an earlier stage. But that makes its scope for significant near-term cost reductions even larger.
Principles of electrochemistry
Batteries and electrolysers apply the same scientific principles of electrochemistry, meaning that they share several components such as electrolyte and membrane materials, as well as key manufacturing processes. The future development of electrolysers therefore stands to benefit from the experience of manufacturing batteries. The knowledge acquired from batteries should spill over into the scaling up of electrolyser production, enabling faster cost reductions.
Skills and human capital
The human capital and skills that are developed cross-fertilise each other. The lessons learned in the development of individual components also have the potential to ripple through other industries that share them. These include fuel cells, control systems and specialised materials for other engineering applications.
Power storage
The power for electric vehicles is stored in large, rechargeable batteries. These can be the only power source, or they can be supplemented by a petrol or diesel engine.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles meanwhile convert hydrogen gas to electricity, with a battery used to store surplus energy or supplement the power during periods of high demand.
