Green hydrogen from seawater

Independent northern England R&D company Torvex Energy has developed a process to produce green hydrogen from seawater.

The process, which has been developed over several years and validated by the Teesside-based Materials Processing Institute, is stated not to require desalination nor to produce oxygen or toxic by-products and equipment corrosion is minimal – all benefits over current approaches to green hydrogen production from seawater.

While the full details of the process are not available, the company describes it simply as “a unique electrochemical reaction process” that they say is simple and sustainable and will revolutionise the efficiency and sustainability of green hydrogen production.

Patents are pending in key industrialised countries around the world and partners are being sought to progress the technology from pilot to commercial production.

Have you seen?
Hy3 – feasibility for Dutch, German cooperation in hydrogen production from offshore wind
Energy Transitions Podcast: The North Sea – Axis of decarbonisation

“Seventy per cent of the earth’s surface is seawater, and our team has created an efficient and scalable means of generating hydrogen directly from this abundant natural resource,” says Rob Hutchinson, a Director of Torvex Energy.

“We are confident in the commercialisation opportunities for this breakthrough process and are ready to work with like-minded partners to take this exciting technology to the next stage.
This could significantly accelerate the hydrogen economy, which is key to meeting the UK’s 2050 net zero pledge.”

Torvex Energy, founded in 2013, counts on over 30 years’ experience in marine and chemical engineering.

“We are passionate about the role green hydrogen can play in reaching a net-zero energy system, and how our innovations can support the scaling and economic production of green hydrogen,” the company website states.

Dr Richard Birley, Principal Researcher at the Materials Processing Institute’s Industrial Decarbonisation Group, says the technology could be a game changer for the large-scale competitive production of green hydrogen.

“The Institute is already playing a key role to develop hydrogen as a low emission and sustainable energy source, and we are delighted to support this exciting development in green hydrogen,” he adds.

Though it is not specified, Torvex Energy’s approach may be particularly beneficial for green hydrogen production at sea from offshore wind – a topic gaining growing interest.