Rolls Royce enters electrolyser sector

Firm has acquired a 54pc majority stake in German electrolyser stack specialist Hoeller Electrolyzer

Engine manufacturer Rolls Royce is entering the hydrogen production market by acquiring a 54pc majority stake in German electrolyser stack specialist Hoeller Electrolyzer. The latter’s technology will form the basis of a new range of electrolyser products from Rolls Royce’s power systems division. Hoeller has developed proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) stacks under the brand name Prometheus. The firm does not publish efficiency figures for its electrolysers but says they are significantly higher than conventional PEM models thanks to surface technologies for the bipolar plates that reduce the use of platinum and iridium as catalysts and increase output pressure. It has already registered 14 pat