South African researcher models hydrogen production from seawater
南アフリカの研究者、海水からの水素製造をモデルで検討テクノロジー
- Country:
- 🇿🇦 South Africa
- Voice:
- 🇺🇸 Katy
英語本文
South African doctoral researcher Sandile Mondli Mtolo has won second place in the Young Researchers' Pitch at the 2026 Green Youth Indaba for work on producing hydrogen from seawater. Based at Durban University of Technology in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, he uses modelling and simulation to examine the approach's efficiency, economic feasibility and potential to operate at scale.
The research focuses on Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. Green hydrogen is an energy carrier produced when renewable electricity powers electrolysis, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen can be used as fuel or to make ammonia. Mtolo says using seawater could reduce the demand for freshwater in hydrogen production.
Salinity, electrode corrosion and energy consumption remain technical challenges. His work also examines desalination, water quality and process sustainability. The practical and economic feasibility of producing hydrogen from seawater has yet to be established. He plans further research into direct seawater electrolysis, improved desalination and catalyst development.