Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan

Japan and other industrialized countries rely on the import of green hydrogen (H2) as they lack the resources to meet their own demand. In contrast, countries such as Australia have the potential to produce hydrogen and its derivatives using wind and solar energy. Solar energy can be harnessed to pr...

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Main Authors: Yohei Tanaka, Timo Roeder, Nathalie Monnerie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Energy Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1530637/full
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author Yohei Tanaka
Timo Roeder
Timo Roeder
Nathalie Monnerie
author_facet Yohei Tanaka
Timo Roeder
Timo Roeder
Nathalie Monnerie
author_sort Yohei Tanaka
collection DOAJ
description Japan and other industrialized countries rely on the import of green hydrogen (H2) as they lack the resources to meet their own demand. In contrast, countries such as Australia have the potential to produce hydrogen and its derivatives using wind and solar energy. Solar energy can be harnessed to produce electricity using photovoltaic systems or to generate thermal energy by concentrating solar irradiation. Thus, thermal and electrical energy can be used in a solid oxide electrolysis process for low-cost hydrogen production. The operation of a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack integrated with solar energy is experimentally investigated and further analyzed using a validated simulation model. Furthermore, a techno-economic assessment is conducted to estimate the hydrogen production costs, including the expenses associated with liquefaction and transportation from Australia to Japan. High conversion efficiencies and low-cost SOECs are projected to result in production costs below 4 USD/kg.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2296-598X
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Energy Research
spelling doaj-art-2269cb75d4804e5b9592f06996d070f22025-08-21T05:27:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2025-08-011310.3389/fenrg.2025.15306371530637Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in JapanYohei Tanaka0Timo Roeder1Timo Roeder2Nathalie Monnerie3National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Global Zero Emission Research Center (GZR), Hydrogen Production and Storage Team, Tsukuba, JapanDeutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR/German Aerospace Center, Institute of Future Fuels, Cologne, GermanyRWTH Aachen University, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Chair for Solar Fuel Production, Aachen, GermanyDeutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt – DLR/German Aerospace Center, Institute of Future Fuels, Cologne, GermanyJapan and other industrialized countries rely on the import of green hydrogen (H2) as they lack the resources to meet their own demand. In contrast, countries such as Australia have the potential to produce hydrogen and its derivatives using wind and solar energy. Solar energy can be harnessed to produce electricity using photovoltaic systems or to generate thermal energy by concentrating solar irradiation. Thus, thermal and electrical energy can be used in a solid oxide electrolysis process for low-cost hydrogen production. The operation of a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) stack integrated with solar energy is experimentally investigated and further analyzed using a validated simulation model. Furthermore, a techno-economic assessment is conducted to estimate the hydrogen production costs, including the expenses associated with liquefaction and transportation from Australia to Japan. High conversion efficiencies and low-cost SOECs are projected to result in production costs below 4 USD/kg.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1530637/fullhydrogen productionsolid oxide electrolysis cellconcentrated solar energytechno-economic analysishydrogen transportation
spellingShingle Yohei Tanaka
Timo Roeder
Timo Roeder
Nathalie Monnerie
Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
Frontiers in Energy Research
hydrogen production
solid oxide electrolysis cell
concentrated solar energy
techno-economic analysis
hydrogen transportation
title Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
title_full Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
title_fullStr Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
title_short Solar-heat-assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in Japan
title_sort solar heat assisted hydrogen production using solid oxide electrolysis cells in japan
topic hydrogen production
solid oxide electrolysis cell
concentrated solar energy
techno-economic analysis
hydrogen transportation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2025.1530637/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yoheitanaka solarheatassistedhydrogenproductionusingsolidoxideelectrolysiscellsinjapan
AT timoroeder solarheatassistedhydrogenproductionusingsolidoxideelectrolysiscellsinjapan
AT timoroeder solarheatassistedhydrogenproductionusingsolidoxideelectrolysiscellsinjapan
AT nathaliemonnerie solarheatassistedhydrogenproductionusingsolidoxideelectrolysiscellsinjapan