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New panels developed by Photreon, a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, produce hydrogen directly from water and sunlight, without electricity, without electrolyzers, and with the potential to expand local production in companies, on rooftops, and in regions with high solar exposure.
New panels capable of producing hydrogen using only water and sunlight, without electricity and without grid connection, were presented by Photreon, a spin-off of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, during the Hannover Messe event. The technology was shown in a one-square-meter prototype and proposes a direct route for fuel generation.
The system developed by the company dispenses with the electrolyzers normally used in green hydrogen production. The proposal also eliminates the step where solar energy is first captured by photovoltaic panels and then used to power an electrolysis unit.
Paul Kant, co-founder of Photreon, stated that the technology avoids the detour through electricity-powered electrolysis. As a result, the process now generates chemical energy directly from sunlight and water.
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Hydrogen is produced in a direct process with water and sunlight
The approach presented by Photreon replaces the conventional two-step model with a unique process called photocatalysis. In this method, specially designed photosensitive materials absorb solar light energy and excite electrons to an activated state.
This energy is used to directly split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The goal is to reduce the technical complexity and high costs of systems that previously limited the large-scale adoption of hydrogen as a fuel.
Grid-independent operation is one of the central points of the technology. The team presented the panel as a solution capable of lowering barriers to a decentralized hydrogen infrastructure.
One-square-meter prototype tests new reactor design
The presented photoreactor panel is one square meter and was designed to demonstrate direct hydrogen production. The internal design of the equipment received special attention for integrating light transport, chemical reaction, and removal of the formed gases.
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology registered a patent related to the internal geometry of the reactor. This structure was developed to manage the interaction between light input and chemical reactions, while maintaining efficient hydrogen gas removal.
Kant stated that the reactor was designed to optimize the relationship between light transport, chemical reaction, and the removal of reaction products. The demonstration with the one-square-meter prototype aims to show how this combination works in a physical panel.
Panels can be used on rooftops or in large solar plants
Photreon relies on common materials and standardized manufacturing processes to make the panels suitable for mass production. The modular design allows for applications in small units installed on rooftops or in large arrays, forming solar hydrogen plants in areas with high solar exposure.
The team indicated that the panels can be used in locations where hydrogen supply was too expensive or logistically difficult. Examples cited include medium-sized companies interested in meeting their future needs on-site.
Specialty chemical industries, food production, and metallurgy are among the sectors mentioned as potential users. In these cases, the panels could enable local fuel production and reduce dependence on external energy grids.
Maren Cordts, also co-founder of Photreon, stated that the technology opens new possibilities for local production in locations without connection to electricity grids or a hydrogen network. The proposal, in this scenario, expands usage in areas previously considered difficult for green hydrogen projects.
By enabling decentralized production, the system offers an alternative for industrial locations deemed geographically or economically unfeasible. The technology remains focused on making clean energy production more direct and less dependent on centralized infrastructure.
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