*Article* **A Holistic Consideration of Megawatt Electrolysis as a Key Component of Sector Coupling**

**Bernd Emonts 1,\*, Martin Müller 1, Michael Hehemann 1, Holger Janßen 1, Roger Keller 1, Markus Stähler 1, Andrea Stähler 1, Veit Hagenmeyer 2, Roland Dittmeyer 3, Peter Pfeifer 3, Simon Waczowicz 2, Michael Rubin 3, Nina Munzke <sup>4</sup> and Stefan Kasselmann <sup>5</sup>**


**Abstract:** In the future, hydrogen (H2) will play a significant role in the sustainable supply of energy and raw materials to various sectors. Therefore, the electrolysis of water required for industrial-scale H2 production represents a key component in the generation of renewable electricity. Within the scope of fundamental research work on cell components for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers and application-oriented living labs, an MW electrolysis system was used to further improve industrial-scale electrolysis technology in terms of its basic structure and systems-related integration. The planning of this work, as well as the analytical and technical approaches taken, along with the essential results of research and development are presented herein. The focus of this study is the test facility for a megawatt PEM electrolysis stack with the presentation of the design, processing, and assembly of the main components of the facility and stack.

**Keywords:** renewable electricity; PEM electrolyzers; megawatt electrolysis system; large-scale test facility; water splitting; living lab; simulation platform; coupling of energy-related technologies
