Innovative Pathway to Green Hydrogen: Sustainable Production with Solar Energy
Key Ideas
- Research focuses on integrating PEM electrolyzer with solar energy and treated sewage effluent for green hydrogen production.
- Various water pretreatment and solar energy input scenarios are assessed for technoeconomic feasibility, efficiency, and sustainability.
- Solar energy sources like PV, ST, and PTC show high material and environmental efficiency, reducing CO₂ emissions by 88% compared to the national grid.
- The economic sustainability of the process is around 57% but could reach 90% if hydrogen production costs decrease to $2.08-$2.27 per kg.
The article discusses research conducted at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar, focusing on the production of green hydrogen as an alternative fuel. The study aims to demonstrate the viability of an integrated system that combines a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer with solar energy and treated sewage effluent for green hydrogen production. By using treated sewage effluent instead of deionized water, the process becomes more cost-effective and sustainable.
The research evaluates different combinations of water pretreatment methods (RO and UF) and solar energy sources (PV, ST, and PTC) to determine their technoeconomic feasibility, efficiency, environmental impact, and sustainability. The study reveals that scenarios involving concentrated solar power (CSP) have higher capital expenditures compared to photovoltaic (PV) cases and national grid cases.
Using solar energy sources such as PV, solar thermal (ST), and parabolic trough collectors (PTC) results in high material efficiency (94.87%) and environmental efficiency (98.34%), leading to an 88% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to using the national grid. The economic sustainability of the process averages at 57%, but the percentage could increase to 90% if hydrogen production costs decrease to the range of $2.08-$2.27 per kilogram.
The outcome of the study proposes a green hydrogen production pathway that is technically feasible, environmentally sustainable, and economically viable. The research highlights the importance of integrating renewable energy sources with innovative technologies for a greener and more sustainable energy future.
Topics
Power
Environmental Impact
Sustainability
Energy Transition
Research
Solar Power
Water Treatment
Economic Feasibility
Technoeconomic
Latest News