Hydrobooster PEM · Engineered by Knergy.
Versatility and immediate response for variable-load applications.
The versatile counterweight of the dual portfolio
Hydrobooster PEM is Knergy's proprietary line of proton-exchange-membrane electrolyzers, designed for applications where static 24/7 industrial operation is NOT the main use case: mobility refueling, coupling with intermittent renewable generation, power-to-gas systems, and pilot projects where response speed and compactness are critical.
As the counterpart to Hydrobooster ALK for the alkaline segment, Hydrobooster PEM completes Knergy's dual portfolio: two product lines, one engineering philosophy — technically sound, financially viable, and operationally reliable solutions.
The optimal use case for PEM electrolysis
Direct coupling with renewables
Photovoltaic solar, wind, intermittent sources.
Variable load and fast response
Response to demand changes in under 3 seconds.
Refueling stations
Hydrogen on demand for heavy mobility.
Mobile or space-constrained applications
Compact configurations, high power density.
High outlet pressure without additional compression
Native high operating pressures.
Immediate purity from startup
No need for prolonged purging.
Hydrobooster PEM line
- Response time
- < 3 seconds to load changes
- Operating range
- 5% – 110% of nominal capacity
- Stack size
- Up to 1.5 MW per unit
- Specific consumption
- 4.3 kWh/Nm³ (standard configuration)
- H₂ dew point
- < −70°C
- H₂ purity
- Up to 99.999%
- Outlet pressure
- Native high pressure, no additional external compression
- Purity at startup
- Immediate, no prolonged purging
- Delivery format
- Containerized, compact, portable
- Safety system
- H₂-specific HAZOP + IEC 62061 SIL2/SIL3 compliance
- Control integration
- Native integration with the client's SCADA/COP
Four Hydrobooster PEM configurations
Compact solution for demos, pilot projects, research labs and low-demand applications. Ideal for validating technology before scaling investment, or for high-purity hydrogen supply in laboratory and calibration applications.
Solution optimized for internal fleet refueling stations at cement plants, steel mills and mines: forklifts, quarry trucks, industrial vehicles. Compact design with integrated high-pressure compression and certified dispenser.
Medium-capacity solution for coupling with photovoltaic solar or wind farms. Designed to follow the renewable generation curve, modulating between 5% and 110% load without stack degradation.
Large-scale configuration with a single stack of up to 1.5 MW. For industrial applications where fast response and high purity are critical requirements: special fuel refining, semiconductor electronics, fine chemical processes.
Where Hydrobooster PEM is the superior choice
Mobility and fleet hydrogen
Refueling stations for heavy mobility (quarry trucks, forklifts, industrial vehicles). At cement plants and steel mills, internal fleets are an additional decarbonization path alongside the main process.
Integration with renewable energy
Solar and wind plants require an electrolyzer capable of following the renewable generation curve, modulating between 5% and 110% load without degradation. Hydrobooster PEM is the technically superior choice for this application.
Backup and power-to-gas applications
Hydrogen-based energy storage systems: surplus renewable energy is converted to H₂ with Hydrobooster PEM, stored, and later reconverted to electricity via fuel cell or turbine.
Demos and pilot projects
For clients who want to validate technology before committing large-scale CAPEX, the Hydrobooster PEM Compact units (10 Nm³/h) are ideal for testing and demonstration phases with controlled risk.
High-purity industrial applications
Fine chemical processes, semiconductor electronics, instrument calibration, selective hydrogenation in specialty chemistry. Hydrobooster PEM delivers hydrogen of up to 99.999% purity directly from the unit, with no additional purification.
We tell you when PEM is not the answer
Knergy is transparent with its clients about the limitations of each technology. Hydrobooster PEM is NOT the right choice for:
- Continuous 24/7 operation in long-life heavy industryHydrobooster ALK is superior in total cost of ownership.
- Projects where cost per kW installed is the critical variableAlkaline electrolysis has lower CAPEX per Nm³/h.
- Long-term iridium and platinum supply chain riskApplications where iridium and platinum availability is a long-term supply chain risk.
- Operation with industrial-standard quality waterPEM requires ultrapure water, which adds CAPEX in pretreatment.
Every project starts with a techno-economic assessment
Every project starts with a preliminary techno-economic assessment where Knergy analyzes these five criteria. The result: an honest technology recommendation — Hydrobooster ALK, Hydrobooster PEM, or hybrid ALK+PEM configuration — with its full technical and financial justification.
H₂ demand profile
Continuous, variable, intermittent.
Electricity source
Grid, renewables, mix.
Available space
Available space and installation constraints.
Expected project service life
Expected service life and CAPEX vs OPEX trade-off.
Purity and pressure requirements
Purity and pressure requirements of the final application.
One engineering philosophy, two product lines
Application engineering
Use-case-specific design, CFD modeling when applicable, integration with existing processes.
Hydrogen-specific HAZOP analysis
Not a generic electrolyzer one.
Plant personnel certification
We do not deliver black boxes.
24/7 support
Remote support center with continuous telemetry.
Disruptive financial model
Pure lease at 5% available in selected regions.
Open documentation
The client retains full technical control of the system.
Receive an honest technology recommendation for your project
Preliminary techno-economic assessment: Hydrobooster ALK, Hydrobooster PEM or hybrid configuration, with full technical and financial justification.