Leuven Catholic University, located in Belgium, presented the Solhyd project. He proposes the creation of unique panels for the production of hydrogen from heat and moisture in the air.
The Solhyd hydrogen panel operates on a unique principle that distinguishes it from traditional solar panels and electrolyzers. This device combines a standard photovoltaic cell with a specially designed layer that generates hydrogen by adsorbing water vapor from moist air with a special material.
What is known about the new development of scientists
Water vapor accumulates inside the panel, and under the influence of sunlight, a photoelectrochemical cell separates it into hydrogen and oxygen. This device is so innovative that it “ignores” sunlight and works with light based on a different principle.
The key element of the system is a membrane that is able to collect and concentrate water vapor in the conversion chamber. The energy from the top layer is used to activate catalysts that split air and water molecules.
This process can occur regardless of the presence of water and does not require a connection to the electricity grid, making the system completely autonomous for hydrogen production.
How much energy can a water panel generate?
One Solhyd module is capable of producing about 6 kilograms of hydrogen per year in a north-western European climate. By comparison, a rooftop solar plant half the size, with 20 hydrogen panels, can provide 120 to 240 kilograms of hydrogen annually, equivalent to about 4 to 8 megawatt hours of hydrogen energy.
The panels have a peak efficiency is 15%, and the real goal of efficiency is 12% or more. They also differ in several important characteristics, such as compatibility with most commercial photovoltaic modules and are made of high-quality materials. This simplifies integration with other solar systems, especially with modern models.
Each panel can produce up to 250 liters of hydrogen per day under optimized conditions. The annual yield of hydrogen from panels installed on a 1,000 square meter roof is 2 to 4 tons. Productivity largely depends on the amount of solar radiation.