Spotted: Although relatively expensive to produce at present, and with storage often cited as a concern, green hydrogen fuel production is increasing. A naturally occurring and superabundant element, hydrogen is popular for several reasons, including the ability to produce it using renewable energy sources. And now, Element 1’s modular, grid-independent hydrogen generation technology is making the fuel even more accessible.

Designed to efficiently convert methanol to hydrogen to electricity, the technology supports both hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles. The company’s catalytic reactor heats a methanol and water feedstock mix before sending it through a membrane purifier for almost 100 per cent fuel cell grade hydrogen.

Because the modular system produces the fuel as needed, the risk of combustion is nearly eliminated, and specialty storage facilities are redundant. This is because the only material that needs to be stored and transported is the methanol and water feedstock. The hydrogen is then produced on-site. Element 1 provides both small and large-scale solutions, as well as a mobile version specifically for refuelling electric vehicles on the go.

Further development of the technology includes a sea-going business spinoff e1 Marine, as well as continued refinement of the systems, materials, and deployment options through on-site collaborations with industrial partners and as infrastructure back-ups.

Springwise has also spotted hydrogen being used as aircraft fuel and in a personal hydrogen power plant for the home.  Larger scale hydrogen production innovations include a proposal for an artificial green hydrogen island in the North Sea.

Written by: Keely Khoury