José Manuel Catalá Civera and Beatriz García Baños, researchers representing the DIMAS-ITACA Institute of the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV), have been awarded with the «Knowledge Transfer Award» in the «Engineering and Technology» category during the third edition of the «UPV Research Awards».
This prestigious recognition highlights their groundbreaking technology for producing green hydrogen using microwaves. This innovation advancement was achieved in collaboration with the team lead by José Manuel Serra from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ-CSIC).
This achievement is the culmination of a decade of collaborative research between the UPV and the CSIC, resulting in pioneering technology for green hydrogen production using microwaves.
«The process is based on the microwave reduction of solid materials at lower temperatures compared to other technologies, representing a revolutionary advancement in this field», explained the ITACA researchers.
This research was published in 2020 in the renowned journal Nature Energy. Recently, the team optimized the materials used, significantly enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production from water through microwave radiation.
“Our system converts water vapor into hydrogen (H₂) and pure oxygen using only renewable electrical energy in the form of microwaves, completely eliminating CO₂ emissions from the production process», the awardees emphasize.
This technology has immense potential to drive the global energy transition by enabling the production of green hydrogen, which serves as a sustainable alternative for key industrial sectors.
“Receiving this award from our own University is a great honor and a testament to the dedication and excellence of both our research team and the Universitat Politècnica de València. It recognizes not only our commitment to scientific advancement but also the impact of our work in addressing global energy challenges. Over the past decade, our collaboration with ITQ-CSIC has led to a groundbreaking innovation in green hydrogen production, demonstrating how fundamental research can drive real-world solutions», conclude ITACA researchers.