Researchers recently announced that they have made a breakthrough that will make it possible to produce large amounts of ultra-pure green hydrogen fuel on demand that will be safe for both storage and transportation.

The breakthrough involves the use of a porous silicon material which is known as Si+. Because the powder made of silicon functions as a solid-state H2, it is safer to transport and store.

“The revolutionary porous silicon material, known as Si+, has the ability to generate ultra-pure hydrogen from a water source and acts as a solid-state hydrogen generating material – one that is lightweight, durable, and portable—resolving numerous problems that have impeded the expansion of the hydrogen economy—the renewable energy company EPRO Advance Technology stated.

Si+ can be used as the anode of lithium-ion batteries to increase the battery capacity. However, it is not widely used due to poor performance under the constraints of current technology:

• Large particle volume expansion (300%) during lithiation
• Particle pulverization
• Structural collapse of electrode
• Poor cycle performance

Si+ can also be used when reacted to water to generate Hydrogen. From there, the usable pure hydrogen fuel begins to bubble out of the combination. There will be a large variety of ambient temperatures during this operation, from 32º to 176ºF (0º to 80ºC). As silicon dioxide is the main component of sand, it is also a biproduct of the process together with H2. While the latter biproduct can be used in playgrounds or even for beach construction, the former can be used as a fuel with zero carbon emissions. As a result, the carbon footprint of the process as a whole is exceptionally low.

“Si+ is the first distributable, long-duration energy storage material of grid parity. It represents a significant breakthrough of green hydrogen energy, and it will make hydrogen fuel the future.”

Albert Lau, EAT CEO

Additionally, the company claims that Si+ is extremely safe in comparison to other “hydrogen fuel carrying” materials because it does not store hydrogen like other solid-state hydrogen compounds do. Additionally, it is made up only of metallurgical grade silicon, which can be obtained from sand combined with a carbon source or recycled silicon from damaged or obsolete solar panels—the majority of which are currently disposed of in landfills.

Our hydrogen-related work

Using hydrogen, Universal Kraft offers a large-scale, environmentally friendly substitute for fossil fuels while maintaining the same functionality. In addition to direct electrification, hydrogen allows the green industry to make an impact outside of the grid through the production of green hydrogen for energy storage, gas greening through hydrogen methanation, and feedstock for locally produced, high-temperature industrial processes that are challenging to electrify.

These green power alternatives are fundamental for a sustainable and complete clean energy transition. For a period of years, Universal Kraft has been developing novel and alternative energy storage technologies. We established the business UH2 to maximize the decarbonization potential of renewable energy sources for the production of green hydrogen and ammonia.

Discover all our solutions here.