Session: OAC-01-01 Safety, Reliability, and Risk Management

Paper Number: 122058

122058 - A Standardized Approach to Safety & Risk Management for Electrolysers 

A Standardized Approach to Safety & Risk Management Ffor Green Electrolysis Plants

Hydrogen technologies such as green electrolysis plants have tremendous potential to help address the climate crisis and enhance energy security. Governments and private entities alike are investing substantial resources into the development and deployment of green electrolysis plants. The scale of these plants is increasing dramatically, going from small demonstration plants to plants surpassing hundreds of megawatts of electrolysis capacity. While the benefits of such expansion are undeniable, it is equally essential to prioritize the safety of workers, communities, and the environment.  The goal of this presentation is to share safety and risk management approaches that drive standardization to create inherently safer electrolysis plants.

To ensure the successful and sustainable growth of this industry, it is imperative that we establish comprehensive risk management & safety standards that address the unique challenges associated with a critical piece of equipment at the heart of any renewable hydrogen project – the electrolysis plant. As electrolysis plant manufacturers and key contributors in this rapidly growing field, we recognize the need for standardizing risk management approaches & safety protocols and procedures. The wide range of configurations and technologies involved demands a versatile yet consistent set of risk management & safety guidelines. These guidelines should encompass areas such as hazard assessment & management, safety strategies, emergency response protocols, and operator training. 

By standardizing safety protocols for electrolysis plants, we can achieve several objectives that benefit the entire industry such as: 

·       Mitigate Risks

·       Enhance Public Confidence

·       Facilitate Regulatory Compliance

·       Enable Global Expansion

·       Foster Innovation

·       Industrial Workforce Growth 

This presentation will highlight how by bringing together experts, practitioners, and stakeholders from across the hydrogen industry, we can collectively create a framework that balances innovation, growth, and safety. We will cover the following topics:

1.       An overview of how electrolysis plants operate including the stack and the Balance of Plant (BOP).

2.       A review of the existing codes and standards related to Risk Management and Safety:

·       What Risk Management and Safety approaches are recommended?

·       What are the gaps in the recommendation?

What are the Key safety risks for electrolysis plants?

Electrical safety

Managing Hydrogen leaks

Stack safety

Pressure Management

Risk Management approach for electrolysis plant design

Safety strategies to mitigate risks and how to standardize them for the industry:

Design Strategies to mitigate the key safety risks

Operations & Maintenance – Safety procedures, emergency response protocols, and operator training. 

Manufacturing Safety

 

Together, we can ensure that as this industry expands, it does so responsibly and safely as we continue our journey to decarbonize the world. 

Presenting Author: Jitesh Panicker Electric Hydrogen

Presenting Author Biography: Jitesh M Panicker is a Regulatory Compliance & Safety Manager at Electric Hydrogen, where we are thinking big to decarbonize. He has over 15 years of experience in the automotive & construction equipment industry in product design & development, where he worked on the design & testing of cooling systems and fuel injection systems. Jitesh's expertise in emissions & diagnostics regulatory compliance and his passion to make the environment safer & cleaner has helped him certify multiple diesel engine and generator set families to EPA & CARB codes & standards. He is now working on applying his his regulatory compliance & risk management skills and experience in the Hydrogen Industry. Jitesh has a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from The University at Buffalo - State University of New York and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis.

Authors:

Jitesh Panicker Electric Hydrogen