| CO2 Emissions / H2 Produced |
Vancouver, Canada – November 6, 2024 – Innova Research, a renowned leader in market research and technology scouting services, specializing in emerging technologies, recently published its latest report named “Innovative PGM Related Technologies in Electrocatalysis and Photocatalysis towards Carbon Reduction 2024.” This report provides an in-depth exploration of the role of platinum group metals (PGMs) in various electrocatalysis and photocatalysis processes, including water electrolysis, water splitting, fuel cells, and solar-to-fuel conversion, examining their potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions in these applications.
Using H2 production as a case study, the report calculates carbon dioxide (or equivalent) emissions per kilogram of hydrogen (kg CO2 / kg H2) produced. It evaluates carbon emissions across different hydrogen production pathways, including traditional thermal catalysis route, electrocatalysis route (with and without PGMs, respectively) using different energy sources (coal-heavy grid, nature gas grid, renewable-dominant grid), respectively, and photocatalyst water splitting technology route.
With a number of assumptions and conditions and after accounting for the upstream carbon emissions from the PGM production, the report’s findings reveal that “electrocatalysis with PGMs using a renewable-dominant grid” can achieve carbon emissions as low as 2.81 kg CO₂/kg H₂. In comparison, “electrocatalysis without PGMs on a renewable-dominant grid” yields slightly higher emissions at 3.28 kg CO₂/kg H₂. Both methods are far more efficient in emission reduction than the traditional steam methane reforming (SMR) process, which results in approximately 10.5 kg CO₂/kg H₂. Notably, photocatalytic water splitting demonstrated the lowest carbon emissions at only 0.105 kg CO₂/kg H₂ while the production is fully driven by the zero-emission sunlight.
Dr. Nancy Wu, research director at Innova Research, commented, "Hydrogen production through photocatalytic water splitting with harnessed sunlight to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using a semiconductor-based photocatalyst, often enhanced with PGMs for greater efficiency, to convert light energy into chemical energy and fuels. Also termed as ‘artificial photosynthesis,’ this technology holds immense promise for producing truly clean hydrogen in the future." Innova Research’s report provides a roadmap for stakeholders interested in sustainable hydrogen production and offers insights into the potential for PGMs to transform the sector through carbon reduction.
For more information, please contact Richard Jun Li at richard.jun.li@innovaresearchinc.com |