Leuven-based hydrogen panels become an official KU Leuven spin-off

Hydrogen will play an important role in the future energy mix in the transition to a CO2-neutral society. If made from green electricity, it is a renewable source of energy (‘green hydrogen’), which can also be easily stored and transported. However: green electricity is scarce and still expensive, so hydrogen production today is mainly based on natural gas (‘gray hydrogen’).

That's why Jan Rongé and Tom Bosserez – both until recently KU Leuven researchers - invented an alternative, under the guidance of Professor Johan Martens of the Center for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis. They call their alternative ‘golden hydrogen’.

"That is hydrogen made directly from light and air", explains Jan Rongé. "We developed a unique patented technology that using sunlight, splits the water vapor present in the air into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas through a membrane. So with our technology, which we built like a hydrogen panel, you can produce renewable fuel anywhere. On any scale, without needing electricity from the grid and without using rare or harmful materials. It is a necessary complement to electrolysers, which require large amounts of green electricity, rare metals and liquid water."