Efficiently coupling water electrolysis with solar PV for green hydrogen production
Chi Zhang, Xinchang Yuan, Hao Fei, Min Ju, Hongsheng Wang, Yunze Zhang, Siyuan Wang, Ziyi Wang, Jia Lei, Guanzhen Chen, Yixiao Huang, Jian Wang
Abstract
Solar-driven water electrolysis has emerged as a prominent technology for the production of green hydrogen, facilitated by advancements in both water electrolyzers and solar cells. Nevertheless, the majority of integrated solar-to-hydrogen systems still struggle to exceed 20 % efficiency, particularly in large-scale applications. This limitation arises from suboptimal coupling methodologies and system-level inefficiencies that have rarely been analyzed. To address these challenges, this study investigates the fundamental principles of solar hydrogen production and examines key energy losses in photovoltaic-electrolyzer systems. Subsequently, it systematically discusses optimization strategies across three dimensions: (1) enhancing photovoltaic (PV) system output under variable irradiance, (2) tailoring electrocatalysts and electrolyzer architectures for high-performance operation, and (3) minimizing coupling losses through voltage-matching technologies and energy storage devices. Finally, we review existing large-scale solar hydrogen infrastructure and propose strategies to overcome barriers related to cost, durability, and scalability. By integrating material innovation with system engineering, this work offers insights to advance solar-powered electrolysis toward industrial applications.