Tech watch: Electrolyser delivers pure hydrogen at lower cost

From the newsletter

A new electrolyser developed by South Korea’s Samsung E&A in collaboration with Norway’s Nel Hydrogen cuts production costs by producing high-pressure and ultra-pure hydrogen, reducing the need for compression and purification. Unlike conventional electrolysers, whose lower-pressure, lower-purity output requires additional compression and purification, Compass H2‑P delivers 30 barg and 99.9995% purity.

• Producing hydrogen at a high pressure directly from the electrolyser reduces or eliminates the need for additional compression,thereby saving energy and lowering costs while simplifying industrial-scale plant design.

• With many industrial applications such as fuel cells, electronics and chemical synthesis requiring ultra-pure hydrogen, the high-purity output reduces downstream purification costs while ensuring performance and safety.

More details

• Launched on November 5 at the ADIPEC Exhibition and Conference 2025 in the United Arab Emirates, Compass H2‑P is a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser that succeeds the alkaline water electrolysis (AEC)-based CompassH2-A released in May of this year. Hong Namkoong, President and CEO of Samsung E&A, termed the launch an “important milestone”, adding, “We plan to fully advance into the global hydrogen market based on our diverse portfolio.”

• The technology  stands out for its industrial-scale readiness. The system offers end-to-end project support, from feasibility studies to engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), combined with performance guarantees that enhance reliability and bankability. This integrated approach reduces project risk and streamlines financing for large-scale hydrogen deployments.

• Another notable characteristic of the technology is its ability to operate efficiently with variable renewable energy inputs, enabling adaptation to intermittent solar or wind power. This flexibility makes Compass H2‑P particularly suitable for regions where grid stability can vary, allowing reliable green hydrogen production in renewable-heavy energy systems. 

• Meanwhile, Toronto-based Pulsenics, a provider of electrochemical monitoring technology, and Brisbane-based Endua, a developer of on-site green hydrogen systems, are implementing what they call the world’s first commercial deployment of AI-enabled spectrum scanning for hydrogen electrolysers. Together, the companies aim to predict how electrolysers perform under challenging, intermittent power conditions.

• Already deployed at an Australian project, the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technology connects electrolyser stacks directly to solar farms, skipping the grid entirely, which eliminates infrastructure costs and allows hydrogen production to use the world’s cheapest available electricity. This setup, combined with AI-driven monitoring, helps producers manage frequent on/off cycling and reduce operational costs.

• By continuously scanning electrolysers across dozens of frequencies, the Pulse Probe system collects critical data on uptime, performance, and degradation. AI algorithms then process this data to provide early warnings of potential failures, optimise performance, and extend asset lifetimes, giving investors and operators greater confidence in hydrogen as a reliable energy source.

• Electrolysers have traditionally lacked visibility into how intermittent renewable power affects efficiency and durability. This deployment demonstrates that advanced monitoring, combined with direct renewable integration, can make green hydrogen production more predictable, cost-efficient, and bankable, marking a significant step toward scaling the technology commercially.

Our take

• Compass H2‑P could be a game-changer for Africa, where abundant solar and wind often clash with grid instability. Its flexibility with variable renewables, combined with project support and performance guarantees, lowers investment risk and makes industrial-scale green hydrogen production more reliable, accelerating the continent’s hydrogen ambitions.

• By delivering real-time insights and mitigating operational risks, the Pulsenics–Endua technology makes green hydrogen more predictable, cost-efficient, and investable, offering a model that could strengthen investor confidence and accelerate the rollout of large-scale projects.

• While innovative technologies are emerging globally, Africa risks falling behind. High upfront costs, infrastructure gaps, and a shortage of skilled operators could slow adoption, making it harder for the continent to compete in the rapidly evolving green hydrogen market.