Improving hydrogen production using solar energy involves developing efficient solar thermochemical cycles, such as the copper-chlorine cycle, and integrating them better with solar thermal systems. Advancements in photolysis for direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion and improving the efficiency of water electrolysis with solar power are crucial.
One of the most sustainable ways to make hydrogen is to use solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This can be done using photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems that combine a photovoltaic device and an electrolyzer device. The PV device absorbs sunlight and generates electricity that drives the electrolytic splitting of water.
In a study by Y. Chen et al. , a solar-based new energy generation and storage configuration was studied for energy and hydrogen fuel production. For the solar farm, a PTC was used, and the useful heat from the PTC powered the organic Rankine cycle (ORC), generating electricity.
Advancements in photolysis for direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion and improving the efficiency of water electrolysis with solar power are crucial. Comprehensive economic and environmental analyses are essential to support the adoption and scalability of these solar-based hydrogen production technologies.
This contribution is projected to rise in the near future with the progress of renewable energy utilization and electrolyzer design. Since solar energy is abundant, sunlight could be deployed effectively in PV modules and PEM “proton exchange membrane” electrolyzers to promote the generation of green hydrogen.
In hydrogen fuel cell, electricity is generated when electrochemical process occurs on combination of hydrogen gas and oxygen. In this reaction heat and water vapor are the byproducts. Figure 2. Components of hydrogen fuel cell.