PEM cell costs can be up to 30% lower than the industry average—Xingran Technology’s 200 Nm³/h PEM electrolyzer production line is now operational.

In response to the nation’s major strategic goals of reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and to promote the consumption and utilization of renewable energy, Jiangsu Xingran Technology has actively invested in the research and development and production of PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment. Currently, Xingran possesses the production capacity for MW-scale PEM electrolyzers, with each unit capable of producing up to 200 Nm³/h of hydrogen. Through technological cost reductions and economies of scale, the company’s equipment manufacturing costs are now below 30% of the industry average, laying a solid technological and equipment foundation for the realization of affordable green hydrogen.

The Xingran Technology 200 Nm³/h single-cell PEM electrolyzer can operate stably over a wide power input range of 5% to 200%. It directly produces high-pressure hydrogen at 3 MPa, enabling minute-level start-stop operations and second-level dynamic response. It is highly compatible with the volatility of wind and solar power generation and is ideally suited for large-scale PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production applications.

R&D personnel from Xingran Technology stated: “The R&D and manufacturing of MW-scale large-format PEM electrolyzers are significantly more challenging than those of small-format PEM electrolyzers. To enhance the performance of our PEM electrolyzers, we have carried out extensive optimization and innovation in areas such as catalysts, proton exchange membranes, electrolyzer structural design, assembly techniques, and process systems.”

The company has developed a self-made nano-iridium oxide catalyst that boasts high activity, excellent dispersion, a large specific surface area, and long service life. It exhibits high adaptability to various reactants and is well-suited for operation under high current conditions. By reducing iridium usage by three-quarters while maintaining the same hydrogen production rate, the consumption of this rare and precious metal is significantly lowered, thereby substantially reducing the cost of the MEA.

We have independently developed a novel three-in-one ordered membrane electrode consisting of a diffusion layer, a catalyst layer, and a proton exchange membrane. This electrode boasts a high specific surface area, with an active area that is more than 50% larger than that of conventional membrane electrodes. It also features high electronic conductivity—thanks to an array of catalysts that significantly enhance electron transport—with a current density ranging from 1.5 to 3 A/cm². Furthermore, the electrode exhibits excellent resistance to high-potential corrosion, enabling the electrolyzer to operate at higher potentials, with a single-cell voltage between 1.75 and 2 V. To a certain extent, this ordered membrane electrode improves both catalytic activity and stability, extends its service life, and reduces hydrogen production costs.

The plate flow channel design has been optimized, featuring a large number of parallel flow channels arranged in a parallel configuration. This increases the contact area and reduces flow resistance, thereby lowering pressure loss to a certain extent. As a result, the permeability of feedwater in the reaction zone is significantly enhanced, which in turn greatly improves the overall efficiency of the electrolyzer. The uniformity of water flow within the electrolyzer has also been optimized, effectively boosting the utilization rate of the membrane electrode. Consequently, the overall efficiency has increased from 75% to 86%, and the service life has been extended from 20,000 hours to 60,000 hours.

By improving machining technology, we have achieved more precise electrode fabrication and assembly. The Xingran Technology 200-standard-cubic-meter PEM electrolyzer features a zero-gap design, which enhances assembly efficiency while maintaining excellent sealing performance and minimizing ohmic resistance. As a result, the electrolyzer’s energy consumption has been significantly reduced, with measured DC power consumption ranging from 4.2 to 4.8 kWh/m³, further lowering the cost of hydrogen-producing membrane electrodes.

Currently, the modern, high-standard mass-production facility of Xingran Technology’s Changzhou branch—covering an area of 26,000 square meters—is under construction. This 26,000-square-meter, state-of-the-art facility will serve as the primary production base for Xingran Technology’s 200 Nm³/H large-scale single-cell PEM electrolyzers. The facility is expected to achieve an annual output of up to 1,000 units, with an annual hydrogen production capacity of up to 200,000 Nm³/H and an annual total output value of 5 billion yuan.