On Oct. 1 the Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences said its Low-Temperature Science and Technology National Laboratory has for the first time proposed using alternating current (AC) to drive direct seawater electrolysis. The group says the AC approach removes the need for seawater pretreatment and ion-exchange membranes, addressing precipitation/scaling constraints and reducing system complexity and hydrogen production cost. The method is presented as compatible

On Oct. 1 the Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences said its Low-Temperature Science and Technology National Laboratory has for the first time proposed using alternating current (AC) to drive direct seawater electrolysis. The group says the AC approach removes the need for seawater pretreatment and ion-exchange membranes, addressing precipitation/scaling constraints and reducing system complexity and hydrogen production cost. The method is presented as compatible with offshore renewable generators for integrated offshore-power-to-hydrogen production, supplying low-cost green hydrogen upstream in the value chain. The team also proposes coupling the process with ethylene glycol oxidation to co-produce high-value glycolic acid, which it says would improve project economics and flexibility.