Hydrogen from moisture in air

The future of green hydrogen as an energy carrier depends on the availability of large amounts of green electricity. Belgian startup Solhyd developed a panel that uses solar energy to make hydrogen from moisture in the air.

The future of green hydrogen as an energy carrier depends on the availability of large amounts of green electricity. Belgian startup Solhyd developed a panel that uses solar energy to make hydrogen from moisture in the air.
Solhyd’s panel features solar cells that generate electricity. Directly underneath is a system that draws in ambient air and captures the moisture it contains.
This is split with the generated electricity into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen gas goes back into the air and the hydrogen gas flows out of the panel through a low-pressure pipeline. With the help of a compressor, the hydrogen gas can be stored under pressure or transported via pipelines.

Applicable in many places

The panels can be connected together to increase hydrogen gas production. According to Solhyd, the technology can be applied in many places, except the driest places in the world where humidity is too low.
Hydrogen production obviously depends on the amount of solar hours. When the sun is not shining and little to no power is generated, the panel does continue to capture and store moisture for later use.

Prototypes

Solhyd has now built a dozen prototypes, which it is testing on its own premises and in pilot projects. The hydrogen panel contains no precious or rare materials, keeping the cost price relatively low, according to Solhyd.
The company will continue to develop the technology over the next few years, with production expected to start in 2026.

Read this article on the site of De Ingenieur (Dutch).

Image: Solhyd.

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