On the scenic campus of École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), scientists have piloted a solar fuel device that uses sunlight to convert water into renewable hydrogen, oxygen, and heat.
The new technology has a solar-to-hydrogen generation rate that exceeds 20% — twice that of other devices — at an output of 2 kW.
“With an output power of 2 kW, we’ve cracked the 1-kW ceiling for our pilot reactor while maintaining record-high efficiency for this large scale,” says Sophia Haussener, the study’s lead author and head of EPFL’s Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering. “The hydrogen production rate achieved in this work represents a really encouraging step towards the commercial realization of this technology.”
The new device generates solar hydrogen through a photoelectrochemical process. The approach can be thought of as similar to photosynthesis in trees. Put simply, it uses energy from sunlight to power the electrolysis of water, splitting it into hydrogen and oxygen. In this case, useful heat is also generated.
But photoelectrochemical devices are still in the pilot and prototyping phase. They often struggle to meet demands across cost, longevity, efficiency, and sustainability, according to Haussener. “Typically, they have a very low production rate and high efficiency, or a high production rate and low...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
