Solutions for a Better Tomorrow
Transforming Trash to Treasure: Biomass Waste Upcycled to Green Hydrogen
The Current Challenges
- There is a lack of cost-effective technologies for the production of green hydrogen, with electrolysis-based hydrogen generation technologies persisting at prohibitively high costs.
- Traditional hydrogen production methods generate carbon emissions and carbon footprints, making them less environmentally friendly.
- Traditional hydrogen production methods require harsh operation conditions in terms of temperature and pressure.
- Grey hydrogen or blue hydrogen production requires the use of fossil fuels while traditional biomass-to-hydrogen production requires a high-energy-consuming biomass pretreatment process.
Our Innovation and Breakthrough
- A new catalytic reaction system can turn wet and dry garbage, including food waste, paper waste, yard waste etc. into hydrogen. It requires much lower operating temperatures and pressures than traditional biomass-to-hydrogen production methods.
- Using biomass waste powder such as bamboo, waste wood, and wheat straw as raw materials, the hydrogen production yield can reach about 88% of the theoretical yield.
- The hydrogen production cost of this technology is much lower than green hydrogen produced through electrolysis and also comparable to that of fossil fuel hydrogen production.
- Our technology will not result in additional carbon emissions.
The Impact
The pioneering waste-to-energy technology offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods. It is paving the way for widespread adoption of sustainable green hydrogen production, creating significant economic, environmental, and social impacts on society. Additionally, it helps in solving urban solid waste treatment issues.
Team Leader
Dr Zhao Jun, Associate Professor of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University.
Interested in Our Innovation?
Contact us at itpr@hkbu.edu.hk to explore collaboration and partnership opportunities.