Durability testing of battery-electrolysers for hydrogen cooking and microgrid applications

This paper investigates the development and testing of a lead-acid battery-electrolyser over a minimum 6-month period from autumn 2023. A lead-acid battery-electrolyser is a single device with dual functions that serves both as a battery for energy storage and as an electrolyser for hydrogen production. The study involved the fabrication of three battery-electrolyser cells, that were subjected to long-term durability tests under various cycling modes, including battery-only, electrolyser-only, and battery-electrolyser operations. The tests aimed to accelerate degradation and simulate real-world conditions typical of remote off-grid communities. Results showed a 27% capacity decrease in the cell operating as a battery after 398 discharge cycles. The cell operating as a battery-electrolyser exhibited a 21% capacity loss after 198 deep discharge cycles. In contrast, the third cell, operating as an electrolyser only, showed negligible capacity change, indicating minimal degradation. These findings demonstrate the ability to use a lead-acid battery as a means of hydrogen production but underscore the challenges in achieving a target of 2000 cycles for commercial viability. The paper concludes by suggesting that further improvements in cell design are required to achieve improved cell performance. This study contributes valuable insights into the durability and potential of lead-acid battery-electrolysers for sustainable energy applications.