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Scientists from Nazarbayev University (NU) have created and launched the first integrated station for the production of green hydrogen based on their patents and engineering developments. The full-cycle pilot plant is powered exclusively by solar panels and wind generators. The core of the system is innovative catalysts and unique engineering solutions developed by the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources of the National Laboratory Astana at NU.
The project was implemented in collaboration with the Chinese industrial partnership Zhejiang H2-Bank Technology Co., Ltd. The company helped Kazakhstani scientists assemble a commercial system based on a highly efficient anode catalyst based on iridium oxide, one of the patented electrode materials. A membrane with such a coating allows for efficient water separation during electrolysis and increases the plant’s productivity.
The platform shows the complete chain of production of green hydrogen: solar and wind energy is converted into electricity, which is used for water electrolysis. The hydrogen obtained is stored as an energy carrier and can then be used in fuel cells, transportation, autonomous generators, fertilizer production, metallurgy or the oil and gas sector. For now, the hydrogen produced is used for laboratory purposes: the installation can fill a 6 m3 cylinder in three hours.
“This is an important step towards bringing hydrogen technologies to the experimental level in Kazakhstan. What started with photocatalyst powders and laboratory samples has evolved into an industrial system operating in the open field,” said NU professor Nurshat Nurazhy, head of the laboratory.
During the initial five-year period, the team focused on developing photocatalysts, a key component of solar energy systems, and studying photocatalytic water splitting mechanisms. In the final phase of the programme, researchers were able to strategically move from laboratory experiments to the creation of working prototypes suitable for real-world use.
Dr Erbolat Magazov, head of the hydrogen production team, commented: “Working with an industrial partner allowed us to expand the scale of the system and ensure that it meets international production and safety standards. This is an important milestone for the university and the scientific community in the country: one of the first large-scale systems for renewable hydrogen production in the country, which clearly demonstrates the potential of domestic innovation.”
In 2024, the Government of Kazakhstan approved the Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy until 2030, identifying hydrogen as one of the priority areas for the transition to a low-carbon economy. The work of the Laboratory of Renewable Energy Sources was funded within the framework of the Target Program of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020–2025. During the implementation of the program, scientists are working together with higher education institutions and companies in Kazakhstan and abroad. Among the partners are Atyrau University, Buketov Karaganda University, KMG Engineering, Tokai University in Japan, as well as Wichita State University in the USA and the Amherst Campus of the University of Massachusetts.
“The targeted programme created conditions for bridging the gap between science and industry, demonstrating that national scientific projects can produce not only academic, but also real practical results,” added Professor Nurazhy.
In addition to developing the technology, the research team has published more than 40 papers in highly ranked scientific journals, published a book, and received 7 patents in hydrogen energy. Most importantly, the team has trained a new generation of specialists and created a network of experts specialising in the entire value chain of green hydrogen.
Scientists will continue to further improve photoactive materials, catalysts, and system architecture. They say the current installation is just a small sample of a system that can be widely used throughout the country. Such technologies will allow Kazakhstan to create clean air, an environmentally friendly environment, and new high-tech jobs.
Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/11122025/scientists-launch-green-hydrogen-facility/
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