Think about how much energy we waste every day: lights turned on in empty rooms, hot water running uselessly, food ending up in the garbage. Now imagine being able to almost completely eliminate waste in one of the most energy-intensive processes: the production of clean hydrogen. Clean, green. Call it what you want: hydrogen produced without emissions. The Australian startup hysata created a capillary electrolysis system with a stellar efficiency of 95%, which makes the 70-80% of traditional systems pale in comparison. The result? Hydrogen cheaper and more sustainable than ever. But will it be enough to overcome the challenges of the market?
Energy efficiency as the key to a sustainable future
We can no longer afford to waste precious resources, especially when it comes to renewable energy. This is why I raise my antennas to the news of a capillary electrolyser that promises to revolutionize the production of green hydrogen.
Traditionally, to generate 1 kg of clean hydrogen, capable of storing 39,4 kWh of energy, approximately 52,5 kWh of electricity is needed. This means throwing away 20-30% of the energy used. A luxury that we can no longer allow ourselves, both from an environmental and economic point of view. With the Hysata system, however, 41,5 kWh are enough for the same quantity of H2: an efficiency of 95%, an unprecedented achievement.
Clean hydrogen with 95% efficiency: the technology used
How exactly does this startup's electrolyzer work? The secret lies in eliminating the gas bubbles (hydrogen and oxygen) that form in the electrolyte between the anode and cathode. These bubbles, being non-conductive, increase the resistance of the system and cause much of the energy waste. Hysata has designed a device in which the electrolyte is kept at the bottom and absorbed by capillarity through a porous, hydrophilic separator placed between the electrodes. The latter have full contact with the electrolyte on the internal side and a dry chamber on the external one. Thus, when the water rises and is split, the gases have nothing to pass through: resistance is drastically reduced and efficiency skyrockets (even reaching 98% in laboratory conditions, I'll link the study here).
Hysata's promise has not gone unnoticed in the eyes of investors. Recently, the company secured a whopping $111 million in funding. Funds that will be used to expand the production capacity of its plant in Wollongong, Australia, and to further develop the technology, with the aim of achieving gigawatt-scale production. A strong signal from the market for a potential game-changer in the clean hydrogen sector. On the other hand, reducing production costs is a crucial step to making theRenewable H2 competitive with fossil fuels and batteries in crucial applications, from heavy industry to long-distance transportation.
The challenges to face in an evolving market
Despite the technological success and the enthusiasm of investors, Hysata will have to deal with a green hydrogen market that is still immature and subject to uncertainty. As highlighted by a recent report from BloombergNEF, the current problem is not so much the supply or efficiency of electrolysers, but the demand. In fact, many developers are delaying or canceling orders due to a number of factors, including the slow rollout of government incentives in the US and EU. A scenario that has put several electrolyser manufacturers in difficulty, with losses of up to $1,4 billion in 2022.
Hysata, with its cutting-edge technology and the economic advantages that come with it, may be in an advantageous position to navigate these troubled waters. But it will have to demonstrate that it can rapidly scale production and that it will be able to seize the opportunities that will arise in a market yet to be built.
Clean hydrogen, a zero-emission future
I'm getting more and more reports in this direction, and I'm starting to see a picture. Green hydrogen will play a key role in the transition to a decarbonised economy. Technologies like Hysata's, capable of minimizing waste and optimizing the use of precious renewable energy, will be key to accelerating this process.
Of course, the efficiency of the electrolysis system is only one piece of the complex puzzle of the clean hydrogen economy. There remain open challenges related to storage, transport and conversion into electricity. But every step forward, every waste eliminated, brings us closer to that goal that we can no longer postpone: a zero-emissions future, in which clean energy flows as abundantly as water.
