Enzymes for H2 economy
H2WIN develops the clean energy of tomorrow from water and sun inspired by photosynthesis.
The Belgian greentech H2WIN, a pioneer in the development of a new ecological carbon-free energy carrier, has developed H2GREEN, a revolutionary process for the production of solar hydrogen and green electricity which is inspired by the principle of photosynthesis. Like nature, H2GREEN uses enzymes to catalyze its process.
Currently, over 99% of hydrogen used in the chemical industry, transportation, heating, etc. is produced from fossil energy (gas or coal) or non-renewable energy (electrolysis using electricity from diesel, coal, gas or nuclear). H2WIN could be a game-changer with its 100% renewable, more efficient, less expensive and less energy-consuming process.
H2GREEN by H2WIN S.A. -The ultimate solution for green hydrogen
H2GREEN is a photoenzymatic system developed by H2WIN S.A. to convert sunlight and water directly into green H2. The photoenzymes are the catalysts for the reaction that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. Enzymatic catalysts have the advantage of being cheaper and more efficient than commonly used platinum. The hydrogen produced by the reaction is storable and does not generate CO2 emissions. In addition, its production cost is lower than that of hydrogen from fossil fuels.
The H2GREEN innovation is patented in the European Union, in the United States and several other countries. The interest of this principle of new biocatalysts, on which other researchers are also working, was recognized by the 2021 Nobel Prize in chemistry, confirming H2WIN in its research.
H2GREEN does not stop at the production of solar hydrogen (produced from water and sunlight). Based on the water-to-water life cycle principle, its technology allows the use, with enzymes, of solar hydrogen by combining it with oxygen (present in the air) in an enzymatic fuel cell to produce green electricity (which can be used, for example, as fuel for fuel cell electric cars). The by-product resulting from this transformation is... perfectly pure water!
H2GREEN system is a cycle of water to water
Fig: H2GREEN is a cycle of water to water
The H2GREEN circular system by H2WIN S.A. converts sunlight and water into H2 which is stored. Then it combines the stored hydrogen and oxygen (usually from the air) in an enzymatic fuel cell to produce electricity.
How H2GREEN works
The H2GREEN system comprises a photoenzymatic anode to oxidise water and an enzymatic cathode to reduce protons. The cathodic enzyme can also catalyse the oxidation of hydrogen to produce electricity at the enzymatic anode of a fuel cell.
H2GREEN is inspired by the first step of the natural process of PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
- The sunlight splits the water into hydrogen and oxygen.
- The (photo)enzymes catalyse (provoke) the chemical reactions.
The technology is modular and the enzymatic cathodic module is ready for industrial-scale development. The other modules of the complete cyclic (photo)enzymatic system are currently under development at lab demo stage. All the modules are patented in the European Union, the United States and in several other countries.
H2GREEN is the future of green H2. It has the potential to transform the way hydrogen is produced, making hydrogen a realistic, achievable hope for the future of our planet.
Fig.: H2GREEN is a (photo)enzymatic system to convert sunlight and water into H2, developed by H2WIN S.A.
The role of enzymes in H2GREEN
Enzymes play several roles in the H2GREEN System :
At the start, enzymes are used as a catalyst for PHOTOENZYMATIC ELECTROLYSIS, to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen.
At the end, enzymes are used for the ENZYMATIC FUEL CELL, where the stored hydrogen is combined with oxygen (usually from the air) to produce electricity. The by-product is water – perfectly pure water.
