Circular green hydrogen production with integrated CO2 capture: Technology, business and policy aspects

To respect the climate change mitigation targets defined by the Paris Agreement, European hydrogen demand is expected to increase tenfold by 2050, reaching 25% of EU energy demand. In 2023, 98% of the hydrogen was produced from natural gas steam reforming or coal gasification emitting CO₂. Today, green hydrogen production using electrical power from renewable energies to split water is not competitive due to its larger price than grey hydrogen from fossil fuels. Organic compounds at the end of their life cycle, something with low value or for the disposal of which we even have to pay, may be promising substrates to introduce a circular approach in hydrogen production. However, the low yield and selectivity towards hydrogen of existing thermal or biological industrial processes drastically limit their attractiveness. Moreover, external carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems (which are not competitive in the market yet) are required to mitigate the environmental impact of these processes.

We propose an innovative process which integrates the alkaline hydrolysis of organic waste substrates to simpler organic molecules, their complete oxidation at the anode of an anion-exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzer while producing pure hydrogen at its cathode, and the capture and sequestration of the CO₂ produced as carbonate salt. The integrated three-step process assures a combined waste treatment and full-chain carbon capture and sequestration. Thermal integration and the use of the strong base for multiple purposes (catalyst for hydrolysis, charge carrier for electrolysis and sorbent for CO₂ capture) assures a better efficiency and cost-competitiveness than the three individual processes.

Beyond the development of the innovative process, the purpose of the project is to explore how business model innovation can push the new sustainable technology towards creating real impact. Innovation is required to create new value propositions, reinvent markets, develop partnerships or generate revenues to make the innovative technology economically sustainable. When considering sustainable innovation ecosystems, policy dimensions are also important and we plan to study them as well in the context of this innovation.

Our objective is to demonstrate in the laboratory the feasibility of the combined hydrolysis and electrolysis of organic waste to produce circular green hydrogen assuring an integrated CO₂ capture and sequestration. The innovative process proposed may transform the global energy and waste treatment sectors towards a more resilient economy. We aim to determine what could be an effective business model and strategy for a company based on the process proposed. A non-conventional business model building on an appropriate innovation ecosystem has to be defined to manage the specific market intricacies of the cutting-edge technology proposed. To conclude, we want to analyze the necessary governance infrastructure to induce a transition towards a sustainable and circular hydrogen production with integrated CO₂ capture.