Spanish firms develop electrolysis-free green hydrogen technology

Repsol and Enagas expect direct solar technology to be competitive by 2030

Spanish energy companies Repsol and Enagas have developed a new technology that can produce green hydrogen through the direct use of solar energy without the need for electrolysis. The roadmap for the technology, called photoelectrocatalysis, sees it competing on cost with both green and blue hydrogen by 2030, according to Repsol. “The device receives direct solar radiation and, using photoactive material, generates electrical charges that cause the separation,” says Maria Dolores Hernandez, co-leader of the project, which Repsol began researching in 2021. “It is a very disruptive technology” Sanchez, Enagas This resulting simplification of infrastructure and equipment will reduce th