SunHydrogen advances green hydrogen production with innovative technology

The global green hydrogen industry is currently navigating a landscape of challenges and opportunities, with significant strides being made in research and development despite recent setbacks. SunHydrogen, a United States-based startup, has recently hit a milestone with its innovative nanoparticle-enabled solar modules capable of producing green hydrogen in a single step, eliminating the need for costly electrolysis systems.

SunHydrogen’s approach draws inspiration from the groundbreaking work of Harvard Professor Daniel Nocera, who introduced the concept of the “artificial leaf”, also known as a “bionic leaf”. This technology utilises a photoelectrochemical reaction that imitates the natural process of photosynthesis, enabling sunlight to be transformed into chemical energy without the extra energy inputs required by traditional methods. Conventional hydrogen generation primarily relies on water electrolysis, which necessitates the application of an electrical current to extract hydrogen gas from water, ideally sourced from renewable energy.

The ambition to replicate the ancient process of photosynthesis artificially within a short timeframe is acknowledged by industry experts as a bold challenge. Much of the associated activities remain within laboratory and demonstration phases; however, progress is becoming evident. The technology was first highlighted by CleanTechnica in 2011, with SunHydrogen, originally named HyperSolar, making significant advancements since its rebranding.

In 2020, SunHydrogen renewed its research collaboration with the University of Iowa and expanded its workforce and budget to accelerate its R&D efforts. The company’s core technology hinges on “Photoelectrosynthetically Active Heterostructures” (PAH), which are nanoparticles that harness solar energy to facilitate the hydrogen extraction process. “Each PAH nanoparticle is a microscopic machine, composed of multiple layers enabling the solar electrolysis reaction to take place. It’s a process similar to what happens inside a plant cell during photosynthesis,” stated a representative of SunHydrogen.

In a pivotal development, SunHydrogen announced a joint initiative with Honda R&D Co., aiming to commercialise hydrogen-producing solar panels. The collaboration intends to leverage Honda’s robust manufacturing and design capabilities to produce a ready-to-install hydrogen panel for safe and efficient hydrogen production and collection.

Later on, SunHydrogen reached an agreement with German firm CTF Solar, which will allow the integration of its cutting-edge green hydrogen technology into the established platform of CTF’s solar modules, speeding up the transition from development to market readiness. Originally focused on creating green hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles, SunHydrogen has shifted its concentration towards industrial decarbonization, although it maintains aspirations for hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks.

Marking a strategic move, SunHydrogen joined the Texas Hydrogen Alliance in September, following the allotment of a $70 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration aimed at bolstering a network of hydrogen refuelling stations across Texas. This plan includes five stations connecting major urban areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. The company outlined its intent to establish solar panel arrays at these refuelling sites along key trucking routes, taking advantage of optimal land and sunlight availability to curtail transportation costs and hydrogen losses.

Despite the ambitious plans, the effectiveness of the solar panels in relation to fuel cell trucks will depend on the market uptake, which has been sluggish in the U.S. The slow progress of companies like Tesla and Nikola in the heavy-duty electric truck market has raised questions regarding the sustainability of such investments.

On October 24, SunHydrogen revealed advancements in its partnership with CTF Solar, achieving a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 10.8% with an initial batch of solar modules. This improvement highlights its competitive edge within the photoelectrochemical sector. Recently, the company successfully demonstrated its scaled-up solar-to-hydrogen technology on a 1m² panel, with further plans to expand testing to 25 square meters and beyond.

SunHydrogen asserts that its hydrogen panels offer an off-grid solution, pivotal for utility-scale applications that often face delays in establishing grid connections. The flexibility of the panels allows for the generation of green hydrogen in varying sizes of arrays, positioned at or near the point of use, which could notably decrease distribution and storage costs—elements that have historically hindered the affordability of green hydrogen production.

Current research indicates that unless the challenges concerning storage, distribution costs, and electrolysis expenses are addressed, the widespread deployment of green hydrogen may remain limited to specific applications such as ammonia production. The development of SunHydrogen’s technology illustrates a significant step towards revolutionising not just the hydrogen supply chain, but also broader industrial practices involving decarbonization efforts.

Source: Noah Wire Services