Utilization of Quantum Technology for the Sustainable Production of Green Solar Hydrogen from Seawater for Naval Operations

The predominant contemporary methodologies for hydrogen production predominantly rely on electrolysers, which are highly energy-intensive and contribute significantly to carbon emissions. To establish a cost-effective and efficient alternative, the Green Keplerate Laboratory at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), India, has pioneered an innovative and sustainable quantum-derived technology for large-scale solar-driven green hydrogen production via an economically viable photocatalytic process. This groundbreaking research, spearheaded by Dr. rer. nat. Somenath Garai, introduces a novel Quantum Confinement Technology, wherein reaction systems are encapsulated within sub-Bohr radius confinement, leading not only to enhanced reaction kinetics but also to a fundamental transformation in reaction thermodynamics. The compartmentalized Quantum Containers foster a quantum thermodynamic regime, resulting in exceptionally high photo-conversion efficiency. The research team has successfully engineered an industrial waste-derived electron donor system and, through iterative advancements in prototype development (from Generation-I to Generation-III), has optimized the green hydrogen production rate, achieving a peak output of approximately 50 liters per hour (Lab-Scale Demonstration: YouTube Link). The robustness of this technology has been validated through extensive trials using saline water, simulated seawater, and even artificially contaminated water. Given the vast reserves of seawater in maritime domains, the team envisions the direct utilization of seawater for green hydrogen production, positioning it as a viable and sustainable marine and naval fuel alternative. In addition to utilizing pure solar energy as an input, the team has successfully demonstrated hydrogen production using LED illumination, ensuring operational feasibility under conditions where direct sunlight is unavailable, such as nighttime, adverse weather conditions, or enclosed environments. The system has been meticulously engineered to maximize hydrogen purity at the production stage, thereby obviating the necessity for postproduction purification processes. The produced hydrogen has been directly integrated into internal combustion (IC) engines, successfully powering a two-wheeler, portable power generators, and, more recently, a riverboat (Demonstration: YouTube Link). Additionally, the team has innovatively retrofitted legacy IC engines by redesigning the fuel manifold system while ensuring strict adherence to safety protocols. Notably, these hydrogenfueled engines operate without the need for hydride storage and with minimal structural modifications, thereby significantly mitigating energy losses due to thermal dissipation and enhancing both performance and operational longevity. Given these advancements, the author assert that this quantum-derived green hydrogen technology holds immense potential for deployment within the marine and naval sectors. This webinar provides an in-depth exploration of modern quantum technology applications in sustainable energy generation, addressing critical challenges such as safety considerations, hydrogen storage, and metal embrittlement, along with the corresponding mitigation strategies essential for successful maritime and naval adaptation.