Most electrolysers use AE technology
Alkaline electrolyser systems still cheapest – OIES
But PEM electrolysers are better suited to producing green hydrogen from renewable generation, study finds
Alkaline electrolyser (AE) systems still offer the largest system size at the lowest cost but are unsuited to some forms of renewable generation, according to a study of the costs of various different electrolyser technologies by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES). The paper divides the most promising electrolyser technologies into six major groups: AE; acidic, which includes proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) technologies; solid oxide electrolysers (SOEs); acidic-alkaline amphoteric electrolysers, which include anion-exchange-membrane (AEM) technologies; microbial; and photo-electrochemical. As the paper notes, each technology has its strengths and drawbacks depending on the applica
Also in this section
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
28 January 2026
The development of hydrogen’s distribution system must speed up if the industry is to stand any chance of grabbing a meaningful slice of the low-carbon energy market
