Hydrogen from solar energy, a clean energy carrier from a sustainable source of energy

Abstract

Summary Solar energy is going to play a crucial role in the future energy scenario of the world that conducts interests to solar‐to‐hydrogen as a means of achieving a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen is a sustainable energy carrier, capable of substituting fossil fuels and decreasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to save the world from global warming. Hydrogen production from ubiquitous sustainable solar energy and an abundantly available water is an environmentally friendly solution for globally increasing energy demands and ensures long‐term energy security. Among various solar hydrogen production routes, this study concentrates on solar thermolysis, solar thermal hydrogen via electrolysis, thermochemical water splitting, fossil fuels decarbonization, and photovoltaic‐based hydrogen production with special focus on the concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system. Energy management and thermodynamic analysis of CPV‐based hydrogen production as the near‐term sustainable option are developed. The capability of three electrolysis systems including alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis, and solid oxide electrolysis for coupling to solar systems for H2 production is discussed. Since the cost of solar hydrogen has a very large range because of the various employed technologies, the challenges, pros and cons of the different methods, and the commercialization processes are also noticed. Among three electrolysis technologies considered for postulated solar hydrogen economy, AWE is found the most mature to integrate with the CPV system. Although substantial progresses have been made in solar hydrogen production technologies, the review indicates that these systems require further maturation to emulate the produced grid‐based hydrogen.

Co‐decorated reduced graphene/titanium nitride composite as an active oxygen reduction reaction catalyst with superior stability

“…Renewable energy sources are considered to be the best choice in order to overcome these problems 3,4 . Green hydrogen, for example, which is the hydrogen produced using different renewable energy sources, is considered as being the cleanest fuel that can be utilized in various different sectors, with no environmental impacts 5‐7 . Developing cost‐effective devices that can use hydrogen fuel efficiently is a basic requirement for the success of this target.…”

Barriers to implementation of hydrogen initiatives in the context of global energy sustainable development

“…On the one hand, its production, in theory, will enable the conversion, accumulation and storage of energy generated from any primary source in the long run [15]. On the other hand, hydrogen is recognized as a green secondary energy source as it does not produce pollutant emissions during combustion [16]. Despite this, the hydrogen power generation sector is at its primary stage of development and is not ready to be implemented extensively into the world energy system on a large scale.…”

Modeling and experimental assessment of the novel HI‐I 2 ‐H 2 O electrolysis for hydrogen generation in the sulfur‐iodine cycle

“…Hydrogen can be generated from different sources of raw materials, including fossil fuel, biomass and water . Thermochemical cycles are considered as promising technologies for large‐scale, eco‐friendly and sustainable hydrogen production . Among them, the sulfur‐iodine (SI or IS) cycle, which was originally proposed by General Atomics, gained extensive attention because of its marked advantages compared with other thermochemical cycles (copper‐chlorine, magnesium‐chlorine, etc.…”