Pioneering Green Hydrogen Production from Seawater
Hydrogen is key to the clean energy transition, but traditional production depends on scarce freshwater and energy-intensive processes. Recently, hydrogen made up less than 2% of Europe’s energy consumption, and 96% of it was produced from natural gas, causing high CO₂ emissions. The EU has placed green hydrogen at the core of its clean-energy strategy: under the REPowerEU plan, it aims to produce 10 million tonnes domestically and import an additional 10 million tonnes by 2030, and in long-term energy modelling renewable hydrogen is forecast to supply roughly 10% of the bloc’s energy needs by 2050.
With seawater representing over 96% of the Earth’s water, direct seawater electrolysis offers an alternative to meet rising demand without worsening freshwater scarcity. Yet its high salinity (around 3.5%) causes competing reactions, corrosion, and material degradation, reducing efficiency and raising costs-challenges that must be overcome to unlock the full potential of seawater as a sustainable feedstock for green hydrogen production.
About HySEas
HySEas is pioneering a breakthrough in Green Hydrogen production by extracting hydrogen directly from seawater. Traditional methods of seawater electrolysis face challenges because saltwater can damage the equipment and create harmful byproducts. HySEas solves this by using a special Bipolar Membrane (BPM) that carefully controls how ions move, making the process safer and more efficient.
The project also recovers valuable metals from seawater, making better use of natural resources. To reduce dependence on rare and expensive materials like iridium and platinum, HySEas explores alternative, more sustainable catalysts. With advanced technology and smart design, HySEas makes seawater electrolysis a cleaner, more durable, and cost-effective solution, helping drive the future of green hydrogen.
