Engineers at MIT have developed a novel process for producing hydrogen with a significantly reduced carbon footprint. While hydrogen is considered a climate-friendly fuel, its current production methods often involve fossil fuels, compromising its 'green' credentials. The new aluminium-based process involves reacting recycled aluminium with seawater to generate hydrogen, offering a low-carbon solution. The team conducted a 'cradle-to-grave' life cycle assessment, finding that the process emits only 1.45 kilograms of carbon dioxide per kilogram of hydrogen, a significant reduction compared to traditional methods. Lead author Aly Kombargi highlighted aluminium's potential as a clean energy source and emphasized the scalability of this low-emission hydrogen production, especially in transportation and remote energy systems. By utilizing recycled aluminium and seawater, the process achieves a carbon footprint on par with other green hydrogen technologies powered by solar and wind energy. The researchers also developed a cost-effective and sustainable cycle by recovering gallium-indium from the seawater to produce more hydrogen. This environmentally friendly approach offers a promising solution for achieving cleaner hydrogen production and reducing carbon emissions in the transportation sector.