Green Hydrogen Could Reach Homes Thanks to Activated Carbon, According to UC Chile Research

A research team from the UC Chile Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, led by Elodie Blanco and Felipe Huerta, is developing an innovative solution that could enable the safe and cost-effective storage and transportation of green hydrogen.

According to findings published on ING Divulga, the School of Engineering’s new science and technology outreach platform, one of the main obstacles to scaling up this renewable energy source is storage and transport. A single kilogram of hydrogen gas at atmospheric pressure produces three times more energy than one kilogram of gasoline—yet its volume is 8,000 times greater.

The UC Chile engineering professor noted that this carbon is highly porous and capable of holding hydrogen on its surface through a process known as adsorption, allowing large amounts of gas to be stored. Moreover, it’s low-cost and readily available, making it a viable solution for large-scale applications.

To address this challenge, researchers are designing a storage tank capable of dissipating the heat generated during adsorption, allowing the activated carbon to retain its hydrogen storage capacity effectively.

For the researchers, optimizing this system could mark a key step toward positioning green hydrogen as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, paving the way for its use in vehicles and homes.

The mathematical model supporting the tank design, along with a prototype currently under development, shows promising results. Tests have shown that tanks filled with activated carbon are more cost-effective and efficient than traditional high-pressure systems.

Green hydrogen is emerging as a promising option for combating climate change. Thanks to its geography and strong capacity for solar and wind energy generation, Chile has significant potential to become a global leader in green hydrogen production.