EnviroChemie advances ultra-pure water technology to support green hydrogen production

Rossdorf, Germany: – Industrial water treatment specialist EnviroChemie GmbH is advancing solutions to one of the key challenges in scalable green hydrogen production: generating the large volumes of ultra-pure water required for electrolysis.

The company is now working with an industrial partner to validate the fundamental water-processing principles needed for future green hydrogen plants, using an innovative membrane-ozone technology.

Ultra-pure water – the hidden bottleneck in green hydrogen

Green hydrogen-produced using renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen-is increasingly viewed as an essential decarbonization pathway for high-energy industries such as steelmaking, fertilizer production, methanol and polymer synthesis, shipping, and even parts of aviation. It is also expected to support grid stability by balancing intermittent renewable energy.

However, electrolyzers can only operate reliably using high-purity deionized water. Minerals, organics, and particulate contaminants can degrade platinum-based catalysts, foul proton-exchange membranes, and reduce system efficiency or longevity. Producing hydrogen also requires substantial volumes of this purified water: around 10 liters per kilogram of hydrogen, meaning a 1 MW electrolyser requires approximately 200L of ultra-pure water per hour.

To maintain sustainability credentials, the purification process itself must be energy-efficient, chemical-free, and suitable for deployment in remote or autonomous installations.

Pilot testing with CembrOzone technology

EnviroChemie is conducting a six-month pilot programme to evaluate the use of CembrOzone, a combined silicon-carbide membrane and ozone treatment process, for converting surface water into ultra-pure feedwater for hydrogen electrolysis.

In the CembrOzone process, ozone prevents the formation of persistent biofilms on the membrane surface, maintaining stable flux, reducing maintenance, and significantly extending membrane life. The process requires no chemical cleaning, creates no waste streams, and is highly suitable for automation—making it attractive for decentralized or off-grid hydrogen production sites.

Pilot completion is expected in early 2026.

About EnviroChemie

EnviroChemie GmbH has established a reputation for reliable and innovative technology for water and wastewater treatment and water recycling, specializing in developing and implementing tailor-made for customers.

This engineering and service company was founded in 1976 and offers a holistic range of “Made in Germany” branded products and services based on chemical-physical, biological and membrane filtration processes, whose pedigree relies on its long list of research achievements and patents.

EnviroChemie adopts a partnership approach in which client specialized needs and characteristics form the basis for individual design, planning, engineering, building and commissioning of water and wastewater treatment plants and water recycling. In terms of plant operation, EnviroChemie offers comprehensive services, operation management, contracting and water treatment chemicals.

With more than 30,000 plants sold worldwide, EnviroChemie can apply unrivalled experience to continuous development of innovative and reliable industrial water and wastewater technologies.

EnviroChemie is a member of the EnviroWater Group, a network of companies that specialize in a broad range of solutions for sustainable water treatment. This in turn is a leading group component of German-based Skion Water, which is a technology and solution provider, as well as a plant manufacturer, in both municipal and industrial water and wastewater technology.

Further information at: www.envirochemie.com

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EnviroChemie is a leading expert in holistic industrial water management, primarily serving industries across Europe. Partner with EnviroChemie for innovative, eco-friendly solutions tailored to your needs.