{"id":450314,"date":"2023-06-26T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/innovationorigins.com\/?p=450314"},"modified":"2023-06-26T06:30:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-26T04:30:00","slug":"the-artificial-tree-that-harnesses-sunlight-to-produce-hydrogen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/the-artificial-tree-that-harnesses-sunlight-to-produce-hydrogen\/","title":{"rendered":"The artificial tree that harnesses sunlight to produce hydrogen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Within the campus of a university as active in research as Lausanne\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/en\/\">EPFL<\/a> \u2013 \u00c9cole Polytechnique Federale Lausanne \u2013 spotting a giant aluminum parabolic dish isn\u2019t anything unexpected. What\u2019s unique about it is its function. One might think it is a cutting-edge receiver or transmitter for 5G or maybe 6G networks, but it\u2019s not. The parable is a proper artificial tree that follows the sun, harnessing its light, to produce hydrogen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"io-block io-block__summary\"><ul><li>Swiss researchers designed a solar system to produce hydrogen; <\/li><li>The parable works throughout the whole year &#8211; although with a reduced output; <\/li><li>A company was founded to commercialize the technology; <\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>EPFL researchers created a device to generate hydrogen, oxygen, and heat. The dish is a photoelectrochemical system merging a photovoltaic device and an electrolyzer. An electrolyzer uses electricity to drive chemical reactions, such as producing hydrogen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following years of studies within the university\u2019s lab, the researchers developed a pilot-scale dish to test the technology in a real-world environment. \u201cWe\u2019ve always had a clear vision of creating a system that could be scaled and demonstrated. To do so, you need to have a pragmatic approach, focusing on available materials,\u201d said Prof. Sophia Haussener, head of the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.epfl.ch\/labs\/lrese\/\">LRESE<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The artificial tree they installed on the university premises can produce up to half a kilogram of hydrogen per day \u2013 enough to supply a Swiss family&#8217;s daily energy needs. Furthermore, the dish also allows for producing oxygen and heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hydrogen production <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The system comprises a seven meters diameter parabolic dish and a solar reactor. The parable works as a solar concentrator; on its focal point \u2013 where sunlight is conveyed \u2013 there is the reactor. Concentrating light on a small area results in a more compact device, saving on costs and materials. As the light reaches the focus, it is homogenized to provide a uniform light flux, which is critical to optimizing performance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only thing that needs to be added is water. EPFL\u2019s scientists pump water to the reactor, using it both for hydrogen production and as a heat transfer fluid, ensuring that all components don\u2019t overheat. At the same time, heat is transferred to parts that improve their performance with temperature. Following chemical reactions, hydrogen and oxygen are stored in a compressed form.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"A solar hydrogen system that co-generates heat and oxygen\" width=\"1290\" height=\"726\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3hsuIQbc59g?start=1&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A timelapse of a day of the parabolic dish <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Works throughout the year<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sun is the primary energy source of the artificial tree, but what happens when it doesn\u2019t shine? In the research <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41560-023-01247-2\">paper<\/a> presented by the Swiss cohort, scientists also showcase different data gathered throughout the whole year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf the day isn\u2019t so sunny, it will keep working, but with a lower output. However, the system\u2019s efficiency \u2013 around twenty percent \u2013 doesn\u2019t change, as the same proportion of sunlight will be converted into hydrogen,\u2019 clarifies Haussener.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The artificial tree produces up to half a kilogram of hydrogen per day using a closed circulating water system so that no drop of water goes to waste. \u201cAn important aspect of our technology is that it can generate heat, too. It could be interesting for residential applications in the future,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Spinning out of the lab<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the promising results, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sohhytec.com\/\">SoHHytec<\/a> was created as a spin-out of the LRESE to start commercializing the technology. Haussener co-founded the company with another researcher of the EPFL lab, Saurabh Tembhurne, the company&#8217;s CEO.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe demonstrated record-breaking performance for high efficiency and power density, making the solution economical. At this stage, we\u2019re bringing our solution to the market, starting with the heavy industry as a customer,\u201d Tembhurne explains.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link advgb-dyn-611929b9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/inspired-by-nature-artificial-leaf-uses-sunlight-to-generate-fuel\/\" class=\"vlp-link\" title=\"Inspired by nature: artificial leaf uses sunlight to generate fuel\"><\/a><div class=\"vlp-layout-zone-side\"><div class=\"vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vlp-layout-zone-main\"><div class=\"vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title\">Inspired by nature: artificial leaf uses sunlight to generate fuel<\/div><div class=\"vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary\">Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed an innovative technology using artificial leaves that harnesses photosynthesis to convert CO2, water, and sunlight into multicarbon liquid fuels such as ethanol and propanol.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Improving the technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>SoHHytec is now testing its artificial tree in a steel processing plant to supply green hydrogen. In the factory\u2019s production and processing operations, hydrogen is one of the production inputs. The spin-off worked on further refining its technology while using its artificial tree in real-world settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be a reliable hydrogen source for industrial plants, the artificial tree needs to produce hydrogen 24\/7. To mitigate solar\u2019s limitations, the company made its system more flexible, offering the possibility to integrate it with external sources of electricity to keep producing hydrogen. Sunpower complements well with wind or hydropower, so electricity can be drawn from other renewable sources when the sun doesn&#8217;t shine. Such integration strictly depends on the location of the installation. There would be no need for it in countries like Spain or Portugal, as per Tembhurne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another aspect the company took care of is light intermittency. On some days, light flux can variate a lot, with moments of sunshine and others when clouds cover the sun again. These aspects pose challenges to a device entirely reliant on the sun. \u201cTo manage intermittency, we developed a smart control algorithm and hardware,\u201d SoHHytec\u2019s CEO adds. \u201cMost importantly, durability has always been the main constraint of photoelectrochemical devices. We expect our technology to have a 25-years lifetime, on par with conventional solar panels and electrolyzers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"vlp-link-container vlp-layout-basic wp-block-visual-link-preview-link advgb-dyn-d6735efe\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/floating-artificial-leaves-could-be-the-next-green-fuel-source\/\" class=\"vlp-link\" title=\"Floating artificial leaves could be the next green fuel source\"><\/a><div class=\"vlp-layout-zone-side\"><div class=\"vlp-block-2 vlp-link-image\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vlp-layout-zone-main\"><div class=\"vlp-block-0 vlp-link-title\">Floating artificial leaves could be the next green fuel source<\/div><div class=\"vlp-block-1 vlp-link-summary\">When hearing the word photosynthesis, our memory probably recalls elementary school days, when we likely first learned about it. <\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Artificial trees forests&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, the company designed a product range including different-sized artificial trees. A system of 20 kW produces an output of 10 kilograms of hydrogen per day. A bigger version of thirteen diameter version guarantees doubles the output. Then, SoHHytec also envisions a 25-meter diameter model suited for barren lands like deserts or other unusable areas with forests of artificial trees.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Besides the process industry, the company targets other sectors where hydrogen will be easier to deploy. Mobility, specifically the heavy-duty one, is one of them. It might be possible to have the parables next to refueling stations in the most-beaten corridors of lorries. Another option is establishing hydrogen production hubs closer to where and when it\u2019s most needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Within the campus of a university as active in research as Lausanne\u2019s EPFL \u2013 \u00c9cole Polytechnique Federale Lausanne \u2013 spotting a giant aluminum parabolic dish isn\u2019t anything unexpected. What\u2019s unique about it is its function. One might think it is a cutting-edge receiver or transmitter for 5G or maybe 6G networks, but it\u2019s not. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2084,"featured_media":493990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[39636,25115,79035,70762],"location":[52892],"article_type":[43139],"serie":[],"archives":[],"internal_archives":[],"reboot-archive":[],"class_list":["post-450314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sustainability-nl","tag-epfl-en","tag-hydrogen","tag-solar-energy-13","tag-waterstof-2","location-switzerland","article_type-features"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":{"subtitle":"Researchers developed a parabolic dish that collects sunlight to generate hydrogen, oxygen, and heat. ","text_display_homepage":false},"author_meta":{"display_name":"Mauro Mereu","author_link":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/author\/mauro-mereu\/"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/1440x883.png","coauthors":[],"tax_additional":{"categories":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/category\/sustainability-nl\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Sustainability<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Sustainability<\/span>"]},"tags":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/category\/sustainability-nl\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">EPFL<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/category\/sustainability-nl\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">hydrogen<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/category\/sustainability-nl\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">solar energy<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/en\/category\/sustainability-nl\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">waterstof<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">EPFL<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">hydrogen<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">solar energy<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">waterstof<\/span>"]}},"comment_count":"0","relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 3 years ago","modified":"Updated 3 years ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on June 26, 2023","modified":"Updated on June 26, 2023"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on June 26, 2023 6:30 am","modified":"Updated on June 26, 2023 6:30 am"},"featured_img_caption":"","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2084"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=450314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/450314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/493990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=450314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/location?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"article_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article_type?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"serie","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/serie?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/archives?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"internal_archives","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal_archives?post=450314"},{"taxonomy":"reboot-archive","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ioplus.nl\/archive\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reboot-archive?post=450314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}