Hydrogen is increasingly described as the fuel of the future and one of the best solutions for decarbonizing heavy machinery, such as airplanes and ships, where electrification is not easily feasible. However, a degree of caution is needed in this field – not all hydrogen is produced sustainably. There are different types of hydrogen, and the method of its production is crucial for its environmental value.
Grey hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, most commonly natural gas, and during this process, large amounts of carbon dioxide are released. Blue hydrogen is created in a similar way, but with the application of carbon capture and storage technology. In contrast, green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy and does not pollute the environment. Hydrogen production requires electricity, and if that electricity comes from fossil fuels, the hydrogen itself will carry embedded carbon dioxide emissions.
Data published by Linköping University in Sweden show that the production of one ton of grey hydrogen causes emissions of up to ten tons of carbon dioxide. On the other hand, green hydrogen is a sustainable solution. However, its wider use is still limited – precisely because of the challenges of securing sufficient renewable energy at an affordable price. While the use of renewable energy sources is not new, on a global scale, grey hydrogen still dominates the market. Although renewables are used for hydrogen production, their efficiency is very limited.
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A Technological Breakthrough in Green Hydrogen Production
Scientists at Linköping University have devised a new technology that has achieved significant progress in the efficiency of hydrogen production directly from sunlight. The latest technology uses a special three-layer material that harnesses sunlight more effectively to produce hydrogen from water.
Compared to previous materials, this innovative material has increased the efficiency of the process by as much as eight times. These three layers are composed of: silicon carbide (3C-SiC), cobalt oxide, and a special catalyst that accelerates the entire process. When sunlight strikes this material, it generates small positive and negative electric charges. These charges split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
One of the main challenges in developing such materials is preventing the charges from recombining and thereby canceling out, which would reduce the efficiency of water splitting. The secret of the threelayer combination lies in the fact that the new material successfully prevents charge loss, making the entire process significantly more efficient. Thanks to the new, more efficient material, it is possible to obtain more hydrogen from the same amount of sunlight, which will directly reduce production costs.
Prepared by: Katarina Vuinac
The story was published in Energy portal Magazine CLIMATE CHANGE
