Shenzhen University Leads the Research and Development of Seawater Desalination Free Electrolytic Hydrogen Production
2025-9-9
Recently, the kickoff meeting for the research and development project of "Split Modular Seawater Desalination Free Direct Electrolysis Hydrogen Production Technology and System Equipment" in the field of "New Energy Storage and New Energy" under Guangdong Province¡äs key research and development plan was held at Shenzhen University. This project will develop the world¡äs first 110Nm3/h seawater desalination in-situ direct electrolysis hydrogen production system equipment, creating a full chain marine green hydrogen development path from principle innovation to industrial application and maintaining China¡äs global leading advantage in this field.
Original breakthrough in cracking half century problems
As the largest "hydrogen mine" on Earth, the ocean¡äs direct electrolysis of hydrogen has long faced bottlenecks such as corrosion, catalyst deactivation and low efficiency caused by the complex composition of seawater. The team led by Academician Xie Heping of the Chinese Academy of Engineering has pioneered a new principle of in-situ direct electrolysis of seawater for hydrogen production by combining physical and mechanical processes such as molecular diffusion and interfacial phase equilibrium with electrochemical reactions, achieving the direct use of seawater for electrolytic hydrogen production without desalination. The relevant achievements published in Nature in November 2022 were evaluated as "perfectly solving half a century¡äs problems". They were also included in authoritative lists such as "Top 10 Scientific Advances in China in 2022" and "Top 10 Science and Technology Progress News in China".
The leap from laboratory to industrialization
In December 2022, Dongfang Electric invested 30 million yuan to cooperate with Xie Heping¡äs team to promote industrialization. In May 2023, the jointly developed floating offshore hydrogen production platform operated continuously for 10 days in conjunction with wind power in the Xinghua Bay area of Fuqing, achieving the first successful sea trial of direct hydrogen production from seawater using offshore wind power. In July 2024, the 10Nm3/h system completed 240 hours of stable operation, and in December of the same year, the world¡äs first "large-scale research and development of direct hydrogen production without desalination of seawater" land test base was built in Nansha, Guangdong.
Embark on a new journey for the marine green hydrogen industry
The project will form a full chain development path from original principles, disruptive technologies and domestically produced equipment to characteristic industrial models, with a focus on breakthroughs in key technologies such as modular system design, efficient catalysts, and intelligent control systems. "This breakthrough will open the door to low-cost fuel production and drive change towards a more sustainable world." With the launch of the 110Nm3/h system research and development, China is expected to create a globally competitive emerging strategic industry of "ocean green hydrogen" and provide a "Chinese solution" for global energy transformation. Yohan Dall¡äAgnese, Deputy Editor in Chief of Nature, commented.
The attending experts agree that the project implementation plan is consistent with the requirements of the task book. As the technical route is reasonable and feasible, the project will inject strong momentum into the high-quality development of the new energy industry in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.
Original breakthrough in cracking half century problems
As the largest "hydrogen mine" on Earth, the ocean¡äs direct electrolysis of hydrogen has long faced bottlenecks such as corrosion, catalyst deactivation and low efficiency caused by the complex composition of seawater. The team led by Academician Xie Heping of the Chinese Academy of Engineering has pioneered a new principle of in-situ direct electrolysis of seawater for hydrogen production by combining physical and mechanical processes such as molecular diffusion and interfacial phase equilibrium with electrochemical reactions, achieving the direct use of seawater for electrolytic hydrogen production without desalination. The relevant achievements published in Nature in November 2022 were evaluated as "perfectly solving half a century¡äs problems". They were also included in authoritative lists such as "Top 10 Scientific Advances in China in 2022" and "Top 10 Science and Technology Progress News in China".
The leap from laboratory to industrialization
In December 2022, Dongfang Electric invested 30 million yuan to cooperate with Xie Heping¡äs team to promote industrialization. In May 2023, the jointly developed floating offshore hydrogen production platform operated continuously for 10 days in conjunction with wind power in the Xinghua Bay area of Fuqing, achieving the first successful sea trial of direct hydrogen production from seawater using offshore wind power. In July 2024, the 10Nm3/h system completed 240 hours of stable operation, and in December of the same year, the world¡äs first "large-scale research and development of direct hydrogen production without desalination of seawater" land test base was built in Nansha, Guangdong.
Embark on a new journey for the marine green hydrogen industry
The project will form a full chain development path from original principles, disruptive technologies and domestically produced equipment to characteristic industrial models, with a focus on breakthroughs in key technologies such as modular system design, efficient catalysts, and intelligent control systems. "This breakthrough will open the door to low-cost fuel production and drive change towards a more sustainable world." With the launch of the 110Nm3/h system research and development, China is expected to create a globally competitive emerging strategic industry of "ocean green hydrogen" and provide a "Chinese solution" for global energy transformation. Yohan Dall¡äAgnese, Deputy Editor in Chief of Nature, commented.
The attending experts agree that the project implementation plan is consistent with the requirements of the task book. As the technical route is reasonable and feasible, the project will inject strong momentum into the high-quality development of the new energy industry in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area.