Green hydrogen is a clean fuel that can be stored for long periods, transported easily, and used to replace fossil fuels in industry, mobility, and energy storage. The goal of NEXPECH2 is to demonstrate a compact, low-cost PEC device capable of achieving 10% solar-to-fuel efficiency with less than 10% performance loss after 200 hours of operation.
The NEXPECH2 project was started to speed up the shift toward renewable hydrogen production. Today, most hydrogen is produced from natural gas, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide. Even renewable hydrogen from water electrolysis requires external electricity and can depend on expensive or critical raw materials. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a different approach: it combines sunlight capture and water splitting in a single device. This makes the technology simpler and potentially less costly, while directly delivering green hydrogen.
The project aims to overcome the key challenges that have so far limited PEC technology: low efficiency, poor stability, and limited scalability.
The transition to a carbon-neutral society requires large-scale production of renewable fuels. While water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity is gaining ground, it remains energy- and cost-intensive. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a promising alternative, as it can directly convert sunlight and water into hydrogen without the need for external electricity.
The NEXPECH2 project was started to overcome the main barriers holding back PEC technology: limited efficiency, poor long-term stability, and high material costs. By developing new photoelectrode materials, device concepts, and scalable reactor designs, the project aims to provide a pathway toward affordable, efficient, and durable solar hydrogen production.
NEXPECH2 will:
- Create new PEC materials and device designs that are efficient, stable, and scalable.
- Build a demonstration PEC reactor using large-area bifacial photoelectrodes.
- Apply advanced simulations and detailed characterization to understand how the structure and chemistry of materials affect their performance and long-term durability.
SINTEF will contribute with expertise in materials synthesis, advanced characterizations, and device engineering. Work at SINTEF will include laboratory development, testing of photoelectrodes, and evaluation of PEC device performance. Together with the international partners, the project will bring fundamental research closer to real applications.
The goal is to demonstrate a compact, low-cost PEC device with at least 10% solar-to-fuel efficiency and stable operation over hundreds of hours — an important step toward sustainable hydrogen at scale.
