Hydrogen from solar energy, a clean energy carrier from a sustainable source of energy

International Journal of Energy ResearchVolume 44, Issue 6 p. 4110-4131 REVIEW PAPER Hydrogen from solar energy, a clean energy carrier from a sustainable source of energy Seyed Ehsan Hosseini, Corresponding Author Seyed Ehsan Hosseini seyed.ehsan.hosseini@gmail.com shosseini@atu.edu orcid.org/0000-0002-0907-9427 Combustion and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (ComSEL), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas Correspondence Seyed Ehsan Hosseini, Combustion and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (ComSEL), Department of Mechanical, Engineering, Arkansas Tech University, 1811 N Boulder Ave, Russellville, AR 72801. Email: seyed.ehsan.hosseini@gmail.com, shosseini@atu.eduSearch for more papers by this authorMazlan Abdul Wahid, Mazlan Abdul Wahid High Speed Reacting Flow Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, MalaysiaSearch for more papers by this author Seyed Ehsan Hosseini, Corresponding Author Seyed Ehsan Hosseini seyed.ehsan.hosseini@gmail.com shosseini@atu.edu orcid.org/0000-0002-0907-9427 Combustion and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (ComSEL), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, Arkansas Correspondence Seyed Ehsan Hosseini, Combustion and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (ComSEL), Department of Mechanical, Engineering, Arkansas Tech University, 1811 N Boulder Ave, Russellville, AR 72801. Email: seyed.ehsan.hosseini@gmail.com, shosseini@atu.eduSearch for more papers by this authorMazlan Abdul Wahid, Mazlan Abdul Wahid High Speed Reacting Flow Laboratory, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai, MalaysiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 29 November 2019 https://doi.org/10.1002/er.4930Citations: 146Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Summary Solar energy is going to play a crucial role in the future energy scenario of the world that conducts interests to solar-to-hydrogen as a means of achieving a clean energy carrier. Hydrogen is a sustainable energy carrier, capable of substituting fossil fuels and decreasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to save the world from global warming. Hydrogen production from ubiquitous sustainable solar energy and an abundantly available water is an environmentally friendly solution for globally increasing energy demands and ensures long-term energy security. Among various solar hydrogen production routes, this study concentrates on solar thermolysis, solar thermal hydrogen via electrolysis, thermochemical water splitting, fossil fuels decarbonization, and photovoltaic-based hydrogen production with special focus on the concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) system. Energy management and thermodynamic analysis of CPV-based hydrogen production as the near-term sustainable option are developed. The capability of three electrolysis systems including alkaline water electrolysis (AWE), polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis, and solid oxide electrolysis for coupling to solar systems for H2 production is discussed. Since the cost of solar hydrogen has a very large range because of the various employed technologies, the challenges, pros and cons of the different methods, and the commercialization processes are also noticed. Among three electrolysis technologies considered for postulated solar hydrogen economy, AWE is found the most mature to integrate with the CPV system. Although substantial progresses have been made in solar hydrogen production technologies, the review indicates that these systems require further maturation to emulate the produced grid-based hydrogen. Citing Literature Volume44, Issue6May 2020Pages 4110-4131 RelatedInformation