The cost of producing green hydrogen remains prohibitively high, posing a significant challenge to its widespread adoption as a sustainable energy source. Dr Zhao Jun, Associate Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU, and his research team is dedicated to revolutionizing hydrogen production by utilizing waste biomass as the raw materials, offering a sustainable solution to the challenges of high costs or carbon emissions associated with green energy.
Dr Zhao’s novel catalytic reaction approach can generate green hydrogen from wet and dry garbage, including food waste, paper waste, yard waste etc, achieving an impressive production yield of approximately 50% to 88% of the theoretical yield. Unlike traditional biomass to hydrogen technology, the new technology doesn’t require operating in very high temperature and pressure, and with biomass in mild conditions, making it a more viable and accessible solution for mass production.
Furthermore, the production cost of this method ranges from US$1.5 to US$1.8 per kg of hydrogen, significantly lower than the current production cost through electrolysis which ranges from US$5 to $10. It also boasts minimal carbon emissions or even negative emissions through optimization of the energy supply and consumption system, further enhancing its environmental appeal.
Dr. Zhao Jun’s pioneering waste-to-energy technology offers a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional hydrogen production methods. It is paving the way for the widespread adoption of sustainable hydrogen production, creating significant economic, environmental, and social impacts on society.