Stargate's STARDUST and 48 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen

Estonia's Stargate Hydrogen announced on October 14 the commercial availability of STARDUST, a ceramic electrode coating that, according to the company, brings its alkaline stacks to 48 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen, with no iridium or other platinum-group metals. It ships in stacks up to 0.5 MW; integration into the 5 MW stack is underway.

The European benchmark helps. Clean Hydrogen Partnership indicators for alkaline electrolysis start at 50 kWh/kg in 2020 and target 48 kWh/kg in 2030, with degradation falling from 0.12% to 0.1% per thousand hours. The table notes the targets apply together, and the company figure is stack level, not full system.

For electrolyser buyers, asset value depends on time to stack replacement. The release cites longer electrode life; the number that turns this into value is degradation measured over operating hours.

The company says the coating requires no change to balance of plant. That opens room to upgrade stacks rather than replace systems.