OMNI Features｜US Tech Firm SunHydrogen Unveils 20.7 sq ft Solar Hydrogen Module Powered by Sunlight and Water

US-based SunHydrogen, Inc. has unveiled its largest commercial hydrogen module to date, marking a significant advance in renewable hydrogen production. The 20.7-square-foot (1.92 m²) reactor operates entirely on sunlight and water, integrating solar collection and hydrogen generation in one self-contained unit. Designed for off-grid use, it targets distributed, low-cost hydrogen supply for industrial and mobility sectors.

The prototype, demonstrated in open housing, eliminates the need for traditional electrolyzers or grid power, instead using semiconductor materials and catalysts to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The company’s next step is to place the module in a closed housing for continuous hydrogen and oxygen extraction with water recirculation. This configuration will be tested before scaling up to a pilot facility at UT Austin’s Hydrogen ProtoHub, expected to host 16 such reactors covering over 323 square feet (30 m²).

SunHydrogen aims to produce hydrogen directly from sunlight and water, bypassing conventional power infrastructure. The technology could enable cost-effective production in remote or infrastructure-limited regions. Hydrogen’s versatility spans industrial use, fuel cells, power generation, and even rocket propulsion, with Goldman Sachs projecting the global hydrogen market could exceed USD 1 trillion annually by 2050.

Reference: Interesting Engineering