Japan has succeeded in the hydrogen and achieve something unusual. Non-stop production has already been going on for 3,000 hours. If the Japanese motorcycle of the future has managed to grab your attention, you can’t miss the next step. It has been talked about for a long time green hydrogen as the fuel and energy of the future. Its energy density, or ability to generate energy, is three times greater than the capacity of diesel or gasoline. In addition, it does not emit any pollutant gases during combustion or during the production process.
It can be converted into electricity or synthetic fuels and used as a raw material for industrial uses. However, that future has not yet taken hold in the industry, mainly for two reasons. The electrolysis process required to receive hydrogen with renewable energy is expensive. According to the data provided by United Nations In 2022, it will register an amount of $23 per kilo. A figure that contrasts with the two dollars it costs to generate the same amount, but from fossil fuels.
On the other hand, the The most efficient catalyst found so far for this process is iridium.one of the rarest metals on Earth, although it is abundant in meteorites. Moreover, it is also the least corrosive of the known elements. This aspect, together with its resistance to high temperatures (melts at 2,000ºC) has made it an indispensable tool in the manufacture of aircraft engines, the aerospace industry and the manufacture of ships, telescopes or LED technology.
Japan succeeds in ‘hacking’ hydrogen and reaches an unthinkable milestone
Under these circumstances, researchers from the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science of Japan have been working on the solution to this problem and on the ‘magic formula’ to achieve the desired emission-free economy on that basis green hydrogenalongside other sustainable resources.
In a study published in Sciencethe group led by Ryuhei Nakamura claims to have found one system that can reduce the amount of iridium required for electrolysis by 95% without changing the efficiency of the process.
For this have used as a catalyst a fragment of manganese oxide with iridium atoms spread over a surfaceso that the latter do not touch or agglomerate. The result was one continuous hydrogen production for more than 3,000 hours (about 4 months)with an efficiency of 82% and virtually no degradation. The 15 scientists of the institute The kingdom who were part of the project can be proud that they have achieved a milestone with these figures.
“We believe our catalyst can now be applied to the real world,” he said. Nakamura. It should be noted that his team is already testing this new concept with several industrial partners. Despite this progress, industrial production continues to decline hydrogen using this method, or any other, is still a dream come true.
“Right now we are in the middle of a learning curve with green hydrogen, just as happened 20 years ago with renewable energy,” he warns. Thibaud Vincendonmanager of hydrogen green in it Hydrogen refueling solutions.
Japan goes far with hydrogen: 3,000 hours of production and the promise of a new era
Currently, the average global energy production is almost 18 terawatts, or 18 billion watts. Nakamura believes that regardless of the technology used, the transition process will take years. However, he also mentions that qualified researchers will be a key factor.
“Iridium is so scarce that we can increase its production hydrogen Green at the level needed today could take us forty years,” he says. Shuang Kongco-author of the study. It’s not just scarce. It is also the densest chemical element in the world, at 22.65 kilo-liters. The location is mainly concentrated in South Africawhere between 80 and 85% of the world’s iridium reserves lie.
In this scenario Japan manages to get the hydrogen and moving towards what will be the energy revolution. Would you like to know more about the material that promotes the growth of… hydrogen? In this article we will tell you more about him.