Green hydrogen production system from industrial wastewater

Abstract

In the current energy crisis and climate change context, the search for clean and sustainable energy sources has become a global priority. Green hydrogen, produced from water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, has emerged as a promising alternative within this framework due to its ability to generate energy without carbon emissions. However, its traditional production faces challenges such as high energy consumption and reliance on pure water, which limits its large-scale viability in increasingly frequent water scarcity scenarios. This work presents an innovative electrochemical system using wastewater as a raw material to produce and recover hydrogen. This solution not only takes advantage of a residual effluent but also contributes to its treatment and reuse. This system is powered by energy from solar panels, ensuring that the process is entirely sustainable and emission-free. This study introduces the technical characteristics, functionality, and environmental benefits of the system at an industrial scale. This proposal opens new possibilities for green hydrogen production helping to close the water cycle and reduce the carbon footprint in key sectors.

This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [grant number TED2021-129361BI00], and by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR - Generalitat de Catalunya) [grant number 2021 SGR 00226 and 2024 LLAV 00046]

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (published version)