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Life cycle net energy assessment of sustainable H2 production and hydrogenation of chemicals in a coupled photoelectrochemical device

Author

Listed:
  • Xinyi Zhang

    (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
    Department of Chemistry)

  • Michael Schwarze

    (Department of Chemistry)

  • Reinhard Schomäcker

    (Department of Chemistry)

  • Roel Krol

    (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH
    Department of Chemistry)

  • Fatwa F. Abdi

    (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH)

Abstract

Green hydrogen has been identified as a critical enabler in the global transition to sustainable energy and decarbonized society, but it is still not economically competitive compared to fossil-fuel-based hydrogen. To overcome this limitation, we propose to couple photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting with the hydrogenation of chemicals. Here, we evaluate the potential of co-producing hydrogen and methyl succinic acid (MSA) by coupling the hydrogenation of itaconic acid (IA) inside a PEC water splitting device. A negative net energy balance is predicted to be achieved when the device generates only hydrogen, but energy breakeven can already be achieved when a small ratio (~2%) of the generated hydrogen is used in situ for IA-to-MSA conversion. Moreover, the simulated coupled device produces MSA with much lower cumulative energy demand than conventional hydrogenation. Overall, the coupled hydrogenation concept offers an attractive approach to increase the viability of PEC water splitting while at the same time decarbonizing valuable chemical production.

Suggested Citation

  • Xinyi Zhang & Michael Schwarze & Reinhard Schomäcker & Roel Krol & Fatwa F. Abdi, 2023. "Life cycle net energy assessment of sustainable H2 production and hydrogenation of chemicals in a coupled photoelectrochemical device," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36574-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36574-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hiroshi Nishiyama & Taro Yamada & Mamiko Nakabayashi & Yoshiki Maehara & Masaharu Yamaguchi & Yasuko Kuromiya & Yoshie Nagatsuma & Hiromasa Tokudome & Seiji Akiyama & Tomoaki Watanabe & Ryoichi Narush, 2021. "Photocatalytic solar hydrogen production from water on a 100-m2 scale," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7880), pages 304-307, October.
    2. Jieyang Jia & Linsey C. Seitz & Jesse D. Benck & Yijie Huo & Yusi Chen & Jia Wei Desmond Ng & Taner Bilir & James S. Harris & Thomas F. Jaramillo, 2016. "Solar water splitting by photovoltaic-electrolysis with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency over 30%," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, December.
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    1. Keisuke Obata & Michael Schwarze & Tabea A. Thiel & Xinyi Zhang & Babu Radhakrishnan & Ibbi Y. Ahmet & Roel Krol & Reinhard Schomäcker & Fatwa F. Abdi, 2023. "Solar-driven upgrading of biomass by coupled hydrogenation using in situ (photo)electrochemically generated H2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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