"Advancing Renewable Hydrogen Production"

Background

The skyrocketing demand for energy across the globe along with the climate change issues has intensified the search for alternative clean and renewable energy technologies that are fundamental to sustainable socio-economic development, national security, public welfare and environmental safety. Salinity gradient energy generated by mixing two solutions of different salinity, is a completely renewable and sustainable energy that can be continuously harnessed from mixing salt water and fresh water. Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) is a highly innovative, emerging membrane-based technology for exploitation of SGP. In recent years, research in RED has shown an impressive advancement in terms of membrane development, fouling, stack design, fluid dynamics and process optimization, including emerging applications in integrated systems for clean energy, water and hydrogen production.

Hydrogen represents a clean, efficient and versatile energy vector, with a huge potential to fundamentally secure future energy supply in an environmentally friendly way. Hydrogen can be used as fuel, for example, in zero-emissions vehicles, space shuttle and rockets, and for heating homes and offices. Hydrogen is also required for several industrial chemical processes, oil refineries, treating metals, and food processing. It can be produced safely using renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

Water electrolysis is a promising option for hydrogen production, and nowadays receiving an increasing attention due its simplicity, high purity product and compatibility with renewable energy resources. Among the different water electrolysis systems is an Alkaline Polymer Electrolyte Water Electrolysis (APEWE) which offers an advantage of flexibility and low cost.

Sustainable hydrogen production with APEWE can be achieved by coupling with the wind and solar energy systems but the intrinsic seasonal and weather-dependent nature of these power sources limits system efficiency. As a non-intermittent power source, SGP offers an advantage of inexhaustive hydrogen production pathway when coupled with water electrolysis. Theoretically, an efficient utilization of globally available SGP would yield up to 38 Mt/yr of hydrogen, considering the energy consumption of a typical water electrolyzers in the range of 53-70 kWh/kg. This fact was the basis for the idea of the MARVEL project.

About the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, named after the double Nobel Prizewinning Polish-French
scientist famed for her work on radioactivity, support excellent researchers at all stages of their careers,
irrespective of nationality. The programme is open to all domains of research and innovation, from
fundamental research to market take-up and innovation services. Research and innovation fields are
chosen freely by the applicants (individuals and/or organisations). The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
aim to equip researchers with the necessary skills and international experience for a successful career,
either in the public or the private sector. The actions are a key part of Horizon 2020, EU's research
and innovation programme. During the current financing period (2014 - 2020), with a budget of EUR 6.2
billion, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions are expected to support around 65,000 researchers.

More info: https://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/