Hydrogen Production׃ Current Methods and Future Prospects

Abstract

Hydrogen, a clean-burning energy source, has the potential to significantly contribute to the transition toward a carbon-free economy. As human activities expand and populations grow, global energy demand has surged. Currently, fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source, but their widespread use contributes to environmental degradation and pollution due to greenhouse gas emissions. Hydrogen is acknowledged as a versatile energy carrier that can be obtained from both renewable and non-renewable sources. This study outlines various renewable hydrogen production methods, highlighting water splitting techniques like electrolysis, thermolysis, and photolysis, alongside biomass-based approaches such as biological and thermochemical processes. Additionally, it examines the challenges linked to these production mechanisms. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of hydrogen production methods, including steam methane reforming, electrolysis, thermochemical water splitting, botanical hydrogen generation, and other advanced technologies. In addition, we go over the difficulties and potential paths for producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources and offer suggestions for further study and advancement.