Seawater Electrolysis – Cracking the Salt Barrier with Research Backed by Strategic Funding

£3 Million in UK Funding Fuels 10 New Hydrogen Projects

The UK Hub for Research Challenges in Hydrogen and Alternative Liquid Fuels (UK HyRES) has announced funding for 10 cutting-edge hydrogen projects aimed at accelerating the transition to net zero. With £3 million allocated, the initiatives cover diverse areas such as seawater electrolysis, the repurposing of offshore oil and gas assets, and the development of decarbonized steel production processes. This series of projects is a vital step forward in tackling the challenges of hydrogen production, storage, and application.

Seawater Electrolysis: A Game Changer for Hydrogen Production

One of the standout projects is led by Professor Mark Symes at the University of Glasgow, focusing on “decoupled electrolysis of seawater.” Unlike traditional methods that rely on freshwater, this approach could produce hydrogen directly from seawater by separating the formation of oxygen and hydrogen into different stages, locations, and rates.

Think about areas where water scarcity is a pressing issue, such as desert regions or offshore locations. Industries in these settings have long struggled to adopt large-scale hydrogen production due to the limitations of freshwater supplies. If successful, this new method could make hydrogen production viable in such areas, creating new opportunities for global adoption of clean energy solutions.

Seawater electrolysis isn’t just theoretical—it’s rooted in cutting-edge science. The challenge has always been dealing with impurities in seawater, such as salt, which can corrode equipment or hinder the process. Decoupled electrolysis cleverly circumvents this issue, offering a scalable and efficient method to meet rising hydrogen demands. Similar approaches are being explored by companies like Verdagy and H2Pro, which are developing innovative electrolysis techniques.

Overcoming the Obstacles of Seawater Electrolysis

Seawater electrolysis has long been an exciting prospect for hydrogen production, but it comes with significant challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is the natural impurities in seawater, especially salt, which can damage the electrolysis equipment and reduce efficiency. Traditional electrolysis methods struggle to handle these impurities, making the process costly and difficult to scale. Additionally, producing hydrogen and oxygen simultaneously in the same location raises issues of safety and equipment wear. These technical difficulties have limited the use of seawater as a practical source for large-scale hydrogen production, particularly in areas where freshwater is scarce.

This is where the funding is set to make a real difference. As mentioned previously, Professor Mark Symes’s method separates the production of hydrogen and oxygen into different stages, locations, and rates, effectively side-stepping the challenges posed by impurities in seawater. The funding enables researchers to develop and test this promising approach, potentially creating a scalable and cost-effective solution. If successful, this could revolutionize hydrogen production in water-scarce regions, such as deserts or offshore locations, and significantly advance the global shift to clean energy.

Repurposing Offshore Assets for a Hydrogen Future

Another innovative project comes from the University of Aberdeen, where Dr. Alfonso Martinez-Felipe is investigating ways to repurpose aged offshore oil and gas infrastructure for hydrogen production and storage. Think of the North Sea’s vast network of platforms and pipelines—once tools of the fossil fuel economy, these could be transformed into assets driving the hydrogen economy.

This project is tackling some fundamental questions, like optimizing the mechanical properties of materials used to store and transport hydrogen. Safety is a major factor here. Hydrogen is highly flammable, and ensuring its safe transmission over long distances is critical to widespread adoption.

Similar forward-thinking efforts are being made by Equinor and Shell, two companies already exploring ways to adapt existing oil and gas assets for hydrogen-related purposes, particularly in the North Sea. If these projects succeed, they could significantly lower the costs and timelines associated with scaling hydrogen infrastructure. For the UK and beyond, this could mean quicker progress in reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Green Steel Production Through Hydrogen and Ammonia

The steel industry, one of the most carbon-intensive worldwide, is also receiving attention. A project led by Professor Aidong Yang at the University of Oxford explores using ammonia as both a hydrogen carrier and a reducing agent in steel production. Why ammonia? It’s easier to transport than hydrogen in its pure form and can release hydrogen at the production site.

Traditional steel production relies on coal in the reduction of iron ore—a process responsible for about 8% of global CO2 emissions. However, ammonia and hydrogen could revolutionize this system, enabling the production of “green steel” that vastly reduces emissions. A number of companies, including SSAB in Sweden and ArcelorMittal in Luxembourg, are already paving the way in using hydrogen for steelmaking. These efforts align with the UK’s aim to decarbonize heavy industries, especially as the country works toward its 2050 net zero target.

Why This Green Technology Matters and What’s Next

Hydrogen is often called the “Swiss army knife” of clean energy for a good reason—it has the potential to drastically reduce emissions across transportation, heavy industry, and energy storage. Each of these HyRES projects addresses a key barrier to hydrogen adoption, from technical limitations like seawater electrolysis to infrastructure challenges like repurposing old oil rigs. Done right, these initiatives can lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more sustainable world.

What about the timeline? Large-scale viability for these technologies could still be 5 to 15 years away, depending on the pace of research and infrastructure development. But smaller-scale applications could be a reality within the next few years. For instance, pilot projects using seawater electrolysis or green steel production could soon emerge and offer valuable insights for scaling up.