Clean energy breakthrough: Seawater hydrogen tech unveiled

Researchers from the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates have developed a new technology that enables the production of hydrogen from seawater on an industrial scale.

Traditional methods of hydrogen production require clean water, which is problematic in many regions of the world.

This technology can significantly reduce hydrogen production costs and increase the availability of clean energy in regions with limited freshwater resources. The research team's results were published in the journal "Small".

The new electrode, developed by the research team, creates a protective and reactive microenvironment that increases efficiency and prevents damage. The electrode, as described by the researchers, operates in real seawater, achieving a current density of 4.16 A/square centimetre at an overpotential of 0.42 volts, without producing hypochlorite and with excellent operational stability for 300 hours. "This bypasses costly desalination and complex water purification, making green hydrogen production cheaper and more accessible," said co-author Mourad Smari, a research fellow at the Institute of Sciences and Engineering at the University of Sharjah.

This technology eliminates the need for expensive desalination installations, making green hydrogen production cheaper and more accessible. "It’s clean hydrogen produced from the sea," emphasised research team member Dr Ul Haq. The system generates hydrogen with low energy input, which could revolutionise hydrogen production in coastal regions, especially in countries like the United Arab Emirates, where freshwater resources are limited but sunlight and seawater are abundant.

This technology has already attracted the interest of clean energy startups and regional innovation centres. Scientists now plan to move from lab tests to pilot tests to verify the technology in real outdoor conditions.