Sunlight as a driver for green hydrogen and methanol
With FOTON, EnergyVille is taking the next step in linking solar energy to sustainable chemical processes. This Interreg project between Flanders and the Netherlands develops systems and materials that use water, CO2 and sunlight to produce green hydrogen and green methanol, two building blocks that are increasingly relevant for the chemical industry and for energy storage.
In 2025, the project continued work on three pilot-scale demonstration systems: two for green hydrogen production and one for green methanol. A key focus was the integration of advanced photovoltaic components with electrolysis, so that solar energy can be used directly in chemical processes. One example is an alkaline electrolyser equipped with nickel-based electrodes, onto which catalytically active layers such as Pt and NiOOH/NiOOH:Fe were applied to accelerate hydrogen and oxygen evolution.
A photovoltaic-integrated setup was also designed and tested for continuous outdoor hydrogen production. Since early 2026, the system has been monitored almost continuously to analyse how solar irradiation and electrochemical performance interact under realistic operating conditions. This included studying the relationship between solar input, current generation, and solar-to-hydrogen efficiency, as well as carrying out a series of optimisations, such as adjusting the electrolyte flow, replacing membranes and electrodes, and reducing losses in the electrical circuit.
The results show that the current demonstrator, with an active solar-cell area of around 300 cm², can produce multiple litres of hydrogen gas per day under real outdoor conditions. The system also offers clear opportunities for further scale-up through stacked configurations and larger photovoltaic surfaces.
FOTON is a tangible example of what becomes possible when solar energy, materials science, and power-to-molecules are brought together. It shows how renewable energy can do more than generate electricity. It can also provide sustainable feedstock for the industry of tomorrow.