The Indian technical and research university claimed the system is cheaper to build and operate, which could improve the economics of green hydrogen production and speed up adoption.
Using seawater for electrolysis offers location flexibility, paving the way for offshore or coastal hydrogen hubs that can be co-located with wind or solar power.
IIT Madras also said the breakthrough supports India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to establish the country as a leading global producer and exporter.
If scaled, the technology could cut costs, ease pressure on freshwater, and enhance India’s competitiveness in the hydrogen market.
The development is being tackled internationally. For example, the Chinese state-owned oil and gas firm Sinopec previously produced green hydrogen from seawater.
Meanwhile, California-based Equatic raised $11.6m last month to scale seawater electrolysis and carbon removal, and Dolphyn Hydrogen also produced hydrogen from desalinated seawater in an offshore trial in the UK last year.
Seawater electrolysis is seen as a pathway for green hydrogen production, given the abundance of seawater compared to scarce freshwater resources. However, scaling the technology to industrial levels while keeping costs competitive is an ongoing challenge.
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