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Updated: Mar 19, 2026
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Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
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Highly-Efficient Seawater Hydrogen Production via a Plug-and-Play Solar-Powered Membrane Distillation-Electrolysis
Dejun Feng1,2,3, Longchao Wang1,2, Yuanmiaoliang Chen4
1Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, School of Ecology, Environment and Ocean, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
Environmental Science & Technology
|March 18, 2026
Summary
This study presents a solar-powered system for green hydrogen production from seawater, utilizing membrane distillation and electrolysis. The innovative approach achieves high efficiency and low cost, addressing energy and water challenges.
Area of Science:
- Renewable Energy Systems
- Water-Energy Nexus Solutions
- Green Hydrogen Production
Background:
- Global reliance on fossil fuels and freshwater scarcity impede sustainable green hydrogen (H2) production.
- Existing solar-powered seawater H2 technologies face challenges in efficiency and cost.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel plug-and-play solar-powered membrane distillation-electrolysis (SMDE) system for sustainable H2 production from seawater.
- To evaluate the technical viability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the proposed SMDE system.
Main Methods:
- Coupling a photovoltaic (PV) panel, a membrane distillation (MD) module, and a proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer into a single system.
- Conducting lab-scale experiments under varying conditions and performing thermodynamic analysis.
- Assessing solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency (ηSTH) and levelized cost of H2 (LCOH).
Main Results:
- The SMDE system demonstrated technical viability, utilizing PV waste heat to drive MD and supply freshwater for electrolysis.
- Achieved a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of up to 23% and a low LCOH of $1.70 per kg.
- Water consumption was maintained below 25% of the produced H2 mass.
Conclusions:
- The rational integration of mature technologies (MD and PEM electrolysis) offers a sustainable solution for H2 production from seawater.
- The SMDE system provides a cost-effective, efficient, and durable method for green hydrogen generation, addressing the water-energy nexus.
- The system can convert surplus renewable electricity into storable H2, mitigating energy overcapacity issues.
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