West Virginia University (WVU) engineers have received $15.8 million in federal grants to research and develop technology that will help reduce the cost of clean hydrogen production. The grants are part of the funds authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for research that advances the goal of cutting the cost of clean hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram. The projects at WVU focus on improving the manufacture or design of a technology called the 'solid oxide electrolysis cell' (SOEC), which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. The grants were awarded to Edward Sabolsky, Xingbo Liu, and Wenyuan Li, who are professors at WVU. Sabolsky received $9.3 million to design a furnace for SOEC manufacturing that uses microwave energy for heat. Liu's research group received $4.5 million to develop a 'proton-conducting' SOEC, and Li received $2 million to study better ways to manufacture SOECs using a process called 'ultrafast high-temperature sintering.' The goal of the research is to develop SOEC systems that can produce hydrogen for industries currently using fossil energy sources. The researchers aim to replace traditional hydrogen generation technology with electrolysis, which produces hydrogen with up to 100% efficiency and can run on waste heat from adjacent industrial processes. The researchers at WVU are each taking their own approach to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of SOEC technology. The ultimate goal is to support the transition to a hydrogen economy and reduce carbon emissions. [1611fc7b]
Yehuda Kaploun from North Miami Beach and [name] of Key West have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their work in innovating water-to-air technology. They have designed and built atmospheric water generators that can make safe, cold, potable water from the condensation of humidity. The technology aims to address the drinking water crisis around the world and reduce the impact of forced migration caused by water scarcity. The World Health Organization has called for decentralized production and distribution of drinking water, electricity, and food, and the water-to-air technology aligns with this goal. The entrepreneurs are humbled by the nomination and are committed to finding solutions for the global water crisis. [e746b2a3]