China's Progress in Seawater-Based Hydrogen Production
Direct hydrogen production from seawater (typically referring to using untreated seawater directly as the feedstock for water electrolysis) holds significant strategic value, primarily due to the following aspects:
Abundant Seawater Resources: Seawater is an almost limitless resource. On the contrary, fresh water resources are already strained, especially in many water-scarce regions (such as the Middle East, Africa, and remote islands). Relying on fresh water for large-scale green hydrogen development would conflict with agricultural, domestic, and industrial water needs. Seawater hydrogen production can avoid this issue.
Proximity to Renewable Energy Sources: Many areas suitable for wind and solar power generation are located near coastlines. Seawater hydrogen production can integrate these resources nearby.
Reduced Water Treatment Costs and Energy Consumption: The traditional approach involves desalinating seawater first (e.g., via reverse osmosis) before electrolysis. This process is costly and energy-intensive. If seawater can be directly electrolyzed, it would significantly simplify the system process, reducing overall energy consumption and costs.
China has invested substantial resources in researching seawater hydrogen production and has achieved many achievements. This article details China's progress in this field over the past few years, including advancements in catalysts, electrolysis technology, electrolyser equipment, pilot production projects, manufacturing capacity building, and commercialization outlook.
Based on these research efforts and pilot production projects, China’s progress in this field has already caught up with — and in some aspects even surpassed — that of Europe.
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