Sign up by Feb. 7 for GreenBiz 25, our sustainable business event Feb. 10-12 in Phoenix, to save $200.

Article Top Ad

A water bottle made from air, and other wonders of electrochemistry

Sponsored: Experts from the National Renewable Energy Lab and Shell answer questions about the future of clean chemistry and why it matters. Read More

(Updated on July 24, 2024)

Scientists examine a test electrolyzer on the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) campus in Golden

This article is sponsored by Shell Energy.

If you’ve ever added detergent to a load of laundry, filled up your gas tank or used any kind of plastic, you’ve relied on compounds created through carbon-intensive industrial reactions. 

Nearly every aspect of our modern lives relies on these materials and fuels, but because they are produced from chemical reactions powered by fossil fuels, the economic and environmental costs can be significant. 

Electrochemistry provides the opportunity to replace fossil fuels with lower-cost renewable electricity to generate these essential compounds. Harnessing and perfecting these techniques can offer solutions for some of the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors and can create carbon-negative products that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

What is electrochemistry?

Electrochemistry refers to the synthesis of chemical compounds in an electrochemical cell. Electricity is used to turn water and carbon dioxide into more valuable fuels or chemicals, such as hydrogen or ethylene. Electrochemistry mimics the process of photosynthesis — nature’s way of transforming energy into materials.

What are the real-world applications?

Materials: Some of the most greenhouse gas (GHG)-intensive products manufactured include basic chemicals, iron and steel, cement, aluminum, glass and paper. One such basic chemical is ethylene, a component of many plastics. New innovations are making it possible to produce ethylene by using carbon dioxide captured from industrial processes or directly from the atmosphere — resulting in a carbon-negative plastic molecule with new reuse and recycling opportunities. 

Manufacturing: American industry consumes more energy than the transportation, residential or commercial building sectors. Currently, the industrial sector primarily relies on petroleum and natural gas and is on track to become the largest source of U.S. GHG emissions within the next 10 years. Electrochemistry can replace fossil fuels as an energy source within industrial processes to help address this hard-to-decarbonize sector.

Fuels: Transportation currently accounts for 24 percent of global emissions. Green hydrogen, which results from breaking down water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen with renewable electricity, could have significant impacts on transportation. This alternative fuel source could enable fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered aviation. Green hydrogen could even serve as a liquid fuel for use in today’s transportation infrastructure. It also could serve as a form of large-scale energy storage, which in turn would increase the impact of renewable energy by addressing intermittency challenges. 

Why is this emerging now?

Rather than identifying ways to eliminate the materials we depend on, many companies, scientists and researchers are aiming to reduce the emissions impact of their development processes. 

Over the past decade, the cost of electricity from solar and wind has decreased dramatically, which means that a sustainable approach has become more feasible. During the same time period, there have been significant research and development advances within the field of electrochemistry. 

Who is working on this?

Proving that electrochemistry technologies can be cost-effective and deployed at scale are the two most significant challenges for creating a path to market. 

For example, traditional electrolyzers required to produce green hydrogen use iridium, one of the rarest elements on earth. Newly emerging electrolyzer technology instead relies on abundant chemicals such as nickel and iron, which have the potential to dramatically decrease costs. 

Cross-industry collaborations and research are helping overcome barriers for new technologies to reach the market. For example, the Shell GameChanger Accelerator Powered by NREL (GCxN) soon will announce a new cohort of startups focused on electrochemistry. The companies have been selected for the program to help prove out the viability and scalability of their innovations. 

It is critical to maintain a focus on developing and de-risking technologies that can reduce the impact of our most widely used chemicals, materials and fuels. As renewable energy costs continue to decrease, cross-industry initiatives and partnerships have the potential to prove it’s possible to cost-effectively scale these technology applications to achieve real-world impact. 

Trellis Briefing

Subscribe to Trellis Briefing

Get real case studies, expert action steps and the latest sustainability trends in a concise morning email.
Article Sidebar 1 Ad
Article Sidebar 2 Ad