PHOTOVOLTAIC-DRIVEN ALKALINE ELECTROLYSIS AS A PATHWAY TO DECENTRALISED GREEN HYDROGEN: A CRITICAL REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37547/Keywords:
green hydrogen, alkaline electrolyzer, photovoltaic coupling, KOH electrolyte, 316L stainless steel, MPPT, levelised cost of hydrogen, Uzbekistan.Abstract
Decentralised green hydrogen generation through photovoltaic-driven alkaline water electrolysis (AEL) is attracting growing research interest as the cost of solar electricity approaches parity with grid power across much of the developing world. This paper critically examines the published evidence on three pillars of system performance: the thermodynamic and kinetic roles of the electrolyte; the catalytic and durability properties of electrode materials available at low cost; and the power-conditioning strategies required to interface a variable photovoltaic source with the largely ohmic load of an AEL stack. Four experimental papers from Andijan State Technical Institute (ASTI) [3–6] are analysed within the context of seventeen international studies to identify design principles applicable to high-irradiance, resource-limited settings. The review concludes that 30 wt% KOH, 316L stainless steel electrodes operated below 10 mA cm⁻², and MPPT-equipped power converters together constitute a technically sound and economically accessible entry configuration, capable of yielding 160–180 kg H₂ yr⁻¹ from a 5 kW solar array under Uzbekistan conditions. Pathways to reduce the levelised hydrogen cost below $5 kg⁻¹ are discussed.
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