Chapter 9 - Applications of solar PV systems in hydrogen production

Abstract

In the past few years, a huge research effort has been performed in order to investigate hydrogen and its possible energy use. Hydrogen is considered extremely promising as a reliable energy carrier for replacing in the next future fossil fuels, with the aim of facing the global warming issues. One of the main advantages of hydrogen lies in its production because it can be produced by a plurality of energy sources. In particular, photovoltaic (PV) energy may be used for producing hydrogen employing water electrolysis. The most common electrolysis technologies are: (i) alkaline electrolysis; (ii) proton exchange membrane electrolysis; (iii) solid oxide electrolysis; and (iv) anion exchange membrane electrolysis. Alkali electrolysis is the most mature, studied, and used electrolysis method. Proton exchange membrane electrolysis cells are competing with alkali cells for higher hydrogen purity, higher current density, and a greater operating range. Solid oxide electrolysis, developed for overcoming the disadvantages of proton exchange membrane and alkali electrolysis, is still in the precommercial stage, whereas anion exchange membrane electrolysis is at the laboratory stage.