Nearly all the hydrogen we produce comes from fossil fuels, resulting in the emission of hundreds of millions of tons of carbon dioxide per year. Scientist from RMIT University. attempt to produce hydrogen from seawater. What’s the method?
Nationalgeographic.co.id—A new innovation has emerged in the form of a cheaper and energy efficient way to make hydrogen directly from seawater. This innovation is taking part in a critical step towards a truly viable green hydrogen industry.
This new method from RMIT University researchers divides seawater directly into hydrogen and oxygen. They miss desalination needs and associated costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Hydrogen has long been touted as a clean future fuel and a potential solution to critical energy challenges. Especially for industries that are more difficult to decarbonize such as manufacturing, aviation and shipping.
Nearly all of the world’s hydrogen today comes from fossil fuels and their production produces an estimated 830 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. This is equivalent to the combined annual emissions of the UK and Indonesia.
However, emission-free ‘green’ hydrogen, which is made by splitting water, is so expensive that it is largely unviable commercially. Currently ‘green’ hydrogen only accounts for 1% of total hydrogen production globally.
Nasir Mahmood, principal investigator from RMIT, said the green hydrogen production process is expensive and relies on fresh water or desalination.
This new method from RMIT University researchers divides seawater directly into hydrogen and oxygen. They miss desalination needs and associated costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions.
“We know hydrogen has great potential as a source of clean energy, especially for many industries that cannot easily switch to renewable energy,” said Mahmood as quoted from a written statement. RMIT University.
“But to be truly sustainable, the hydrogen we use must be 100% carbon-free throughout its production life cycle and must not cut into the world’s precious fresh water reserves.”
“Our method for generating hydrogen directly from seawater is simple, scalable and much more cost-effective than the green hydrogen approaches currently on the market,” claims Mahmood.
“With further development, we hope it can advance the establishment of a thriving green hydrogen industry in Australia.”
Also Read: Green Solar Hydrogen Fuel: Hope for Our Energy Transition?
