New process promises higher efficiency

Green hydrogen is becoming increasingly important as part of the energy transition. Researchers have now apparently succeeded in producing the fuel with a very high level of efficiency. The backgrounds.

When it comes to the energy transition, two technologies will probably play a decisive role in the future. On the one hand energy storage to store excess electricity and on the other hand hydrogen as fuel for ships and airplanes.

Because the fuel is relatively light and can therefore be used more industrially than classic fuels. Nevertheless, there is still a crucial problem, namely the question of how large quantities of hydrogen can be produced as sustainably as possible.

Hydrogen: New process promises efficiency of up to 90 percent

One speaks of so-called green hydrogen when the production takes place exclusively with the help of renewable energies. Previous processes often achieved an efficiency of around 70 percent. Researchers from Tel Aviv University it has now apparently succeeded in increasing the value to 90 percent.

So-called hydrogenases make it possible. These are different enzymes. As a rule, microorganisms in turn use these enzymes to split water by means of photosynthesis. The researchers took advantage of this process and embedded the enzymes in a hydrogel. The energy required came from an electrode that runs on green electricity.

Green hydrogen is created by using salt water

The result was a process that can produce hydrogen with an efficiency of up to 90 percent. The researchers assume that the gel required for the process is relatively easy to produce. However, the new approach offers another advantage.

Because common processes usually require distilled water for production. The Israeli researchers’ method can apparently also be used to convert seawater into hydrogen. This could accelerate the adaptation of the technology even more.

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