Clean Energy Technology Sector

Hydrogen production via direct seawater electrolysis is a key route to solving the challenge of large-scale offshore wind-power integration. To overcome the two major bottlenecks of anodic chlorine corrosion and cathodic alkali-scale deposition, we have developed (i) a highly stable chlorine-suppressing anode, (ii) a pulsed-electrolysis anti-scaling strategy, and (iii) an electrolyte-conditioning technology. These advances deliver an oxygen-to-chlorine selectivity >98 % at 1000 mA/cm², an electricity consumption ≤4.5 kWh/Nm³ (H₂), stable operation for >2000 h, and a cathodic scale-inhibition rate >90%. A first-generation 10 kW-class direct seawater electrolysis prototype and an “electricity–hydrogen–electricity” coupled demonstration system have been completed.