On-Site, Sustainable Hydrogen Production Using Seawater
Low-carbon hydrogen will play an essential role in our energy transition from power generation to transportation. Hydrogen consumers are looking for sustainable, scalable means to supply their industry with clean hydrogen to decarbonise. Hychor has developed a breakthrough electrolysis technology that can utilise seawater, removing the need for desalination and allowing on-site production of hydrogen without the need to co-locate to a freshwater or hydrogen pipeline.
Why on-site seawater electrolysis production?
The cost of hydrogen is significantly impacted by the energy and logistical input of pressurising/cooling and transporting it to site, where producing hydrogen on-site reduces these costs. However, using a traditional electrolyser (PEM or alkaline) requires significant freshwater withdrawal which insists on co-locating to a natural source or pipeline, or desalinating seawater. Large scale desalination plants incur additional space, capital expenditure, and energy input, contributing to the total cost of hydrogen.
Eliminates the need for desalination, saving on capital and operational costs.
Produces no harmful by-products like brine, ensuring environmentally friendly operations.
Scales to meet demand, making it a long-term solution for large-scale hydrogen production.
Key Benefits for Hydrogen Consumers
On-site production of low-carbon hydrogen
By generating hydrogen on-site (coastal), hydrogen consumers can reduce the cost of transporting hydrogen via tube trailers when a pipeline is not available. Generate your own clean hydrogen at the cost of production, not at the end consumer cost.
Freedom of location
Many industrial clusters are located on the coast, not yet connected to dedicated hydrogen pipelines. Generating on-site hydrogen and utilising seawater effectively eliminates the dependence on co-locating near a large freshwater source or hydrogen pipelines, taking advantage of the most abundant source of water available.
Reduced Plant Size
No desalination means less equipment, energy input, and maintenance of your plant. Reduce your CAPEX and OPEX by simplifying your plant design.
Who Can Benefit from Hychor's Technology
Gas providers
Maximise the green energy system by coupling our technology with renewable energy production, utilising excess electricity to produce cheaper hydrogen.
Hydrogen As a Fuel
Produce a clean fuel on-site for decarbonising transportation such as boats, trains, aviation, and road vehicles.
Industrial Users
Produce Hydrogen efficiently on-site, supporting decarbonisation goals without co-locating to a freshwater source or hydrogen pipeline. Hydrogen can be used a reactant or burned for heat in industrial sectors such as ammonia, steel, glass, and whiskey.
How Hychor’s Technology Works
Hychor’s innovative approach to seawater electrolysis technology allows hydrogen production without desalination. Traditionally, seawater electrolysis has been challenging due to corrosive by-products formed from seawater’s salts, namely chloride, but Hychor’s novel approach overcomes this, allowing safe, efficient hydrogen production while returning seawater safely to the ocean.
Our novel system’s approach take an alternative reaction pathway than traditional electrolysis, allowing us to by-pass corrosive chlorine production but with the same predicted energy input.
Can seawater be used directly?
We can electrolyse seawater without desalination but will still need pre-treatment, eg. filtering sand and seaweed. The extent of pre-treatment will depend on our research outputs and stability of the system but at minimum, we will not require high-pressure reverse osmosis desalination.
What will a hydrogen system looks like?
A hydrogen production system has many steps before and after electrolysis. We focus on developing the electrolyser where we will work with partners to incorporate our technology into the hydrogen production value chain.
Is it scalable?
Is it scalable?
What are the long-term savings?
Eliminate the reliance on hydrogen deliveries and generate low-carbon hydrogen on-site at the cost of production. Removing desalination, though marginally energy consuming, will save in the long-term through reduced electricity demand and equipment investment.
Get in Touch with Hychor
Interested in learning how our seawater electrolysis technology can transform your hydrogen production? Whether you’re part of a large-scale energy provider, a plant manager, or from an industry seeking on-site hydrogen solutions, we’d love to hear from you.