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Renewable hydrogen production. The role of Solar Thermal Water Splitting.

Vicens Garcia, Gabriel (2012)
Department of Energy Sciences
Abstract
In a context of environmental crisis and depletion of conventional energy resources, the current energy
model based on fossil fuels is obsolete and needs to be redefined and redesigned. Hydrogen economy
can represent a good alternative. To get it, developing carbon-free renewable hydrogen production
processes will be crucial. This Master Thesis is focused on the ones using solar thermal energy to split
water. At first, world’s energy situation is analyzed to introduce the need of alternatives like hydrogen.
Then, main hydrogen production processes are classified and discussed. Nowadays 96% of hydrogen
production is based on decarbonizing fossil fuels. Even though, there are different renewable alternatives
developed or under... (More)
In a context of environmental crisis and depletion of conventional energy resources, the current energy
model based on fossil fuels is obsolete and needs to be redefined and redesigned. Hydrogen economy
can represent a good alternative. To get it, developing carbon-free renewable hydrogen production
processes will be crucial. This Master Thesis is focused on the ones using solar thermal energy to split
water. At first, world’s energy situation is analyzed to introduce the need of alternatives like hydrogen.
Then, main hydrogen production processes are classified and discussed. Nowadays 96% of hydrogen
production is based on decarbonizing fossil fuels. Even though, there are different renewable alternatives
developed or under developing, which are expected to take a main role in the middle and long term.
Among them, thermochemical cycles are a good solution to split water using solar thermal energy,
especially two-step cycles like ZnO/Zn. Taking this one as an example, viability of a large-scale hydrogen
production implementation using thermochemical cycles is analyzed at different levels: solar technology,
energetic efficiency and economical status and perspective. I conclude that this process is viable
nowadays, except for the economical level. It requires financial support in the first states of its commercial
development, but not necessarily in its middle and long term. In those, could represent a great pathway to
produce carbon-free renewable hydrogen. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Vicens Garcia, Gabriel
supervisor
organization
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
hydrogen production thermochemical cycles decarbonisation solar thermal energy carbon-free energy
report number
5256
ISSN
0282-1990
language
English
id
3054875
date added to LUP
2012-09-20 14:53:49
date last changed
2012-09-20 14:53:49
@misc{3054875,
  abstract     = {{In a context of environmental crisis and depletion of conventional energy resources, the current energy
model based on fossil fuels is obsolete and needs to be redefined and redesigned. Hydrogen economy
can represent a good alternative. To get it, developing carbon-free renewable hydrogen production
processes will be crucial. This Master Thesis is focused on the ones using solar thermal energy to split
water. At first, world’s energy situation is analyzed to introduce the need of alternatives like hydrogen.
Then, main hydrogen production processes are classified and discussed. Nowadays 96% of hydrogen
production is based on decarbonizing fossil fuels. Even though, there are different renewable alternatives
developed or under developing, which are expected to take a main role in the middle and long term.
Among them, thermochemical cycles are a good solution to split water using solar thermal energy,
especially two-step cycles like ZnO/Zn. Taking this one as an example, viability of a large-scale hydrogen
production implementation using thermochemical cycles is analyzed at different levels: solar technology,
energetic efficiency and economical status and perspective. I conclude that this process is viable
nowadays, except for the economical level. It requires financial support in the first states of its commercial
development, but not necessarily in its middle and long term. In those, could represent a great pathway to
produce carbon-free renewable hydrogen.}},
  author       = {{Vicens Garcia, Gabriel}},
  issn         = {{0282-1990}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Renewable hydrogen production. The role of Solar Thermal Water Splitting.}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}