Selective oxygen anodes for seawater electrolysis
September 20, 2024
The first production plant for selective oxygen anodes will be built in San Diego, California, USA. This was announced by Dr. Xin Chen, co-founder of Equatic, a company that developed these anodes at UCLA with the financial support of ARPA-E.
This is a big step forward because these anodes allow the electrolysis of seawater, which is much more abundant and less valuable than fresh water. While traditional anodes would also produce chlorine, making seawater electrolysis critical, these anodes are coated with selective catalysts that do not react with the salt in seawater. The only problem seems to be the need to re-coat the electrodes with a new layer of catalyst every three years.
Source: Equatic
A new high-efficiency, high-throughput photocatalyst
July 30, 2024
MOFs (metal-organic frameworks) are made of positively charged metal ions surrounded by organic molecules. They have nanometric pores and adjustable structural properties and for this reason, they have been studied as a means of hydrogen storage. A team from Oregon State University led by Kyriakos Stylianou has instead used them to create a catalyst that, when exposed to sunlight, splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The materials used in this project were ruthenium oxide and titanium oxide doped with sulfur and nitrogen and, after testing various combinations, the researchers found the one that allows the best efficiency combined with the highest production speed, capable of using 10% of the incident photons. Fortunately, it is a photocatalyst that contains a minimal amount of ruthenium, a very expensive material.
Source: Oregon State University
A hydrogen flight around the world
February 7, 2024
The Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard, already famous for his exploits in a hot air balloon and with a solar plane, presented Climate Impulse, his project to circumnavigate the planet in 9 days with a non-stop flight and using green hydrogen as fuel.
Climate Impulse has already required two years of research, development, and design with the support of major companies such as Airbus, Daher, Capgemini, and Ariane Group. The construction phase has now started under the direction of engineer Raphaël Dinelli. In another two years, the plane will be ready to begin testing. At the end of the tests, the feat will be attempted by Bertrand Piccard and Raphaël Dinelli.
The propulsion system will be electric with engines powered by fuel cells. The accumulation of hydrogen will be carried out in the liquid phase in order to reduce the overall dimensions. The crucial part will be the choice of materials to guarantee lightness and robustness to the aircraft and Syensqo will take care of these aspects, as it has already done for Solar Impulse.
Source: Climate Impulse
Sirius Jet, the world's first hydrogen VTOL aircraft
January 10, 2024
The world's first hydrogen-powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft has been unveiled by Swiss startup Sirius Aviation AG. The aircraft is the result of a collaboration with BMW's Designworks, Sauber Group, Alfleth Engineering AG, and ALD Group.
The Sirius Jet is powered by a hydrogen-electric propulsion system with zero chemical emissions and very low noise emissions (60 dBa).
Marketing is scheduled for 2025 with two different versions: Sirius Business Jet and Sirius Millennium Jet, which differ in the number of passengers (3 vs 5) and the flight range (1850 km vs 1050 km), maintaining performance intact in terms of cruising speed (520 km/h) and altitude (up to approximately 9000 m).
Source: Sirius Aviation AG
A photo-electrochemical cell with an efficiency greater than 20%.
July 21, 2023
Rice University researchers converted sunlight into hydrogen with an efficiency of 20.8%. To achieve this brilliant result, they employed a device that combines next-generation halide perovskite semiconductors and electrocatalysts.
Previous photo-electrochemical cell prototypes were characterized by low efficiencies and high costs. This new photo-electrochemical cell, built in the laboratory of chemical and biomolecular engineer Aditya Mohite, in addition to being more efficient, uses a very cheap semiconductor material: halide perovskite, which however is extremely unstable in water. The solution found was the creation of an anti-corrosion barrier that isolates the semiconductor from the water and allows the transfer of electrons. To allow both functions, this barrier is formed by two layers: one to block water and one to create a good electrical contact between the perovskite layers and the protective layer.
Source: Rice University
European grant of 20 M€ for the HOPE project
June 28, 2023
The HOPE (Hydrogen Offshore Production for Europe) project was proposed by a consortium of 9 partners from 6 different European countries. The French company Lhyfe is the coordinating company. The other partners are CEA and ERM-Element Energy (France), Plug and Strohm (Netherlands), EDP NEW (Portugal), POM West-Vlaanderen, Alfa Laval (Denmark) and DWR eco (Germany).
In 2022 Lhyfe has already completed Sealhyfe, the world's first pilot plant for the production of offshore hydrogen powered by a 1 MW floating wind turbine.
With HOPE we move to 10 MW with a production of up to four tons per day of green hydrogen that will be transferred to the ground via a medium pressure gas pipeline. Completion of the project is scheduled for 2026.
HOPE will be positioned in front of the port of Ostend (Belgium) and will use water drawn from the North Sea, obviously desalinated and purified upstream of the electrolysis.
Source: Lhyfe
A large-scale SNG production project by TotalEnergies and Tree Energy Solutions.
Maggio 31, 2023
TotalEnergies and Tree Energy Solutions collaborate on the development of a large-scale substitute of natural gas (SNG) production unit in the United States.
The plant will be managed by TotalEnergies and will have a size between 100 and 200 kton/year.
SNG is a synthetic gas produced from renewable hydrogen and CO2 and can be distributed and used exactly like natural gas without the need for any modifications. The renewable hydrogen will be generated via a 1 GW electrolyser powered by approximately 2 GW of wind and solar energy supplied through long-term power purchase agreements.
Source: TotalEnergies