The low-load efficiency performance of alkaline water electrolyzers (AWEs) is poor so its operation range is limited. It is unfeasible for AWEs to follow the fluctuant renewable energy sources (RESs). Besides, the power fluctuation will lead to the electrolyzer temperature variation. The efficiency performance is negatively influenced. Focusing on these problems, an efficiency enhancement control strategy for AWEs operating at varying temperature is introduced in this paper. First, the efficiency model of AWEs is established. Then, a multi-mode adaptive control strategy is proposed to improve the hydrogen production efficiency of AWEs. Based on the U–I curves of AWEs, parameter identification method is used to obtain the key parameters of proposed efficiency model. Finally, the feasibility of the control strategy is experimentally validated on a 10 kW AWE. The experimental outcome shows that by applying the proposed method, the low-load hydrogen production efficiency of AWEs can be improved at different temperatures. At 15% rated load, the electrolyzer efficiency increases from 21.54% to 42.73% at 80°C. The operation range of the electrolyzer can be extended from 30% to 100%–21%∼100% of rated load at 80°C.© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.