In the pursuit of clean energy alternatives, European Union (EU) researchers are tapping into the potential of harnessing hydrogen from solar rays and heat. As Europe faces the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, renewable hydrogen has emerged as a promising solution. Hydrogen, when burned, produces minimal greenhouse gases and can power industries that are difficult to decarbonize. The EU’s REPowerEU strategy and the “Green Deal” both prioritize the adoption of renewable energy, including clean hydrogen, to achieve climate neutrality. However, the current process of producing hydrogen often relies on energy sources that result in CO2 emissions. To overcome this obstacle, researchers are exploring the use of solar energy to generate renewable hydrogen, offering a potential game-changer in the global effort to combat climate change.
The Plataforma Solar de Almería in Spain, the largest test center for concentrated solar technologies in Europe, has caught the attention of EU researchers. This test site uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a small area of a tower, generating temperatures as high as 1,400°C. These extreme heat levels present an opportunity to produce renewable hydrogen without the need for electricity. Souzana Lorentzou, a chemical engineer at the Center for Research & Technology Hellas in Greece, emphasizes the importance of real clean energy that benefits everyone. Renewable hydrogen has the potential to revolutionize economies globally by providing an alternative to fossil fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across various industries.
While the majority of hydrogen production currently relies on energy sources that emit CO2, a more sustainable method exists – electrolysis. By using an electrical current from a renewable energy source to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen, electrolysis offers a clean way to produce hydrogen. However, electrolysis makes up a mere fraction of global hydrogen production due to cost barriers. Researchers believe that solar rays and the heat they generate could be a practical solution for producing clean hydrogen on a larger scale. By leveraging concentrated solar plants, which are already in place, Europe can potentially unlock the benefits of renewable hydrogen as an additional output alongside electricity generation.
Hydrogen production is responsible for approximately 2% of global CO2 emissions, amounting to over 800,000 million tons. Marcel Boerrigter, a principal researcher at Leitat Technological Center in Barcelona, Spain, highlights the need to offset these emissions by greening hydrogen production. Transitioning to renewable hydrogen can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. To achieve this, EU-funded research projects like HYDROSOL-beyond and GH2 are actively exploring innovative methods to generate zero-emissions hydrogen using solar heat and light.
Lorentzou’s HYDROSOL-beyond project harnesses the extreme heat of the solar tower in Almería to initiate chemical processes in a reactor. This reactor transforms water into clean hydrogen without relying on electricity. The project, which began in January 2019 and concludes at the end of 2023, aims to advance the production of solar hydrogen by splitting water molecules. The use of Almería’s abundant sunshine, coupled with the concentrated solar technologies available, positions HYDROSOL-beyond as a potential game-changer in the quest for renewable hydrogen.
Boerrigter leads the GH2 project, which seeks to utilize not only solar heat but also solar light to drive the creation of clean hydrogen. By streamlining the chemical processes involved, GH2 aims to scale up its laboratory-based technology for eventual commercial applications. Although Boerrigter anticipates that it may take ten to twenty years before this technology reaches the commercial stage, the progress made thus far is promising. By addressing the challenges associated with large-scale deployment, researchers are committed to unlocking the potential of solar energy in generating clean hydrogen.
It is essential to acknowledge the lingering technological hurdles that must be overcome before solar heat and rays can substantially contribute to renewable hydrogen production. However, these challenges underline the significance of research projects that boldly venture into uncharted territories. Publicly funded initiatives often take on risks that commercial enterprises shy away from, paving the way for transformative breakthroughs. Lorentzou acknowledges that further fine-tuning is necessary, including modifications to the reactor design, to ensure durability and scalability. Similarly, the chemical processes involved in GH2 are still in the laboratory phase and require refinement before real-world applications can be pursued. The research teams are aware that it may take several more years before their respective technologies reach commercial viability, but they remain optimistic about the profound impact green hydrogen production can have in mitigating climate change.
By harnessing the power of solar heat and rays, researchers are making significant strides towards generating clean hydrogen sustainably. Renewable hydrogen offers a promising alternative to fossil fuels and presents opportunities for decarbonizing hard-to-reach industries. However, overcoming cost barriers and technological challenges remains paramount. The ongoing research projects, HYDROSOL-beyond and GH2, highlight the EU’s commitment to pursuing clean energy solutions and achieving ambitious climate goals. With continued investment in research and innovation, the vision of a greener future powered by renewable hydrogen becomes increasingly tangible. By merging multiple stones together – reducing CO2 emissions, creating green hydrogen, and conserving electricity – these projects are paving the way towards a sustainable and climate-resilient world.
Leave a Reply