NEBAW

Although electrolysis is widely recognised as one of the key methods for extracting hydrogen from water, its use faces significant obstacles related to energy efficiency, material costs, scalability and energy supply. In addition to these, there is also the environmental impact generated by the demand for water resources, which raises important debates about the viability of electrolysis in areas with already compromised water reserves, limiting its expansion in areas that do not have abundant access to fresh water. Furthermore, the activities involved in obtaining, transporting and purifying water to the purity required for electrolysis often have adverse ecological consequences, marked by pollution and harmful emissions.

NEBAW proposes to revolutionise this landscape by harnessing atmospheric water, using it in the electrolysis process to create green hydrogen. This approach eliminates dependence on external water sources, facilitating hydrogen production in remote or desert locations with limited access to water. This hydrogen is classified as ‘green’ because it is produced using electricity obtained from a photovoltaic plant with storage, offsetting the intermittency of renewable energies and the costs associated with supply. The verification of this model in the laboratory marks a fundamental milestone towards its future commercialisation and expansion, opening up unprecedented opportunities for more distributed green hydrogen production. This method not only points towards a more sustainable and diversified energy network, but also proposes a feasible solution to counteract the difficulties related to water and energy availability in desert or isolated regions globally.

In this scenario, the complete elimination of the need for external water would not only represent a monumental step forward in environmental protection, but could also revolutionize H₂ production, making it possible to generate hydrogen autonomously, efficiently, and sustainably in remote locations without the need for nearby water sources. As detailed in the project documentation, the innovative proposal for a “renewed” hydrogen value chain that is self-sufficient in water capturing and condensing atmospheric humidity promises to be 100% renewable and free of pollution and emissions, a comprehensive transformation that respects the environment at every stage of the process. This strategy not only ensures a minimal carbon footprint but also represents a pioneering solution on the path toward a cleaner and more autonomous energy future. To make the whole system viable, the following lines of work are pursued:

1. Development of an atmospheric water capture system. Thermodynamic, mechanical, and electrical design of a refrigeration circuit, heat exchangers, and ventilation systems for atmospheric water capture.
2. Development of an optimized low-consumption electrolyzer. Incorporation of an absorbent membrane that optimizes impedance, water consumption, and the energy required. In addition, the development of new catalysts, a gas diffusion layer, and in-house-manufactured piezoelectric actuators is proposed.
3. Development of a custom compressor. Design of a compressor tailored to the flow, pressure, and other parameters required by the plant.
4. Centralized monitoring and control of the plant. Collection of signals from each piece of equipment, definition of electrical interfaces, and communication protocol.
5. Construction of a mini photovoltaic power plant. Sizing and design of the system based on the needs of the capture, electrolysis, compression, and communication units.
6. Integration of the solution into a single enclosure. Integration of the different modules into one enclosure to maintain autonomy, portability, and efficiency.

This project has been accepted under Incentive Program 4: Basic–Fundamental Research Challenges of IDAE, the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving, within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. GFM Fotovoltaica
Funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.