Solar panel produces hydrogen without detours

15.04.2026

Source: E & M powernews

A spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology has developed a PV panel for direct solar hydrogen production.

The production of green hydrogen without electrolysers is made possible by a start-up project from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The spin-off "Photreon" has developed so-called photoreactor panels that produce hydrogen from sunlight and water in a cost-effective and scalable way, according to a press release. The panels are suitable for decentralized applications as well as for large plants in sunny regions.

The production of green hydrogen has so far been considered cost-intensive, technically complex and heavily dependent on electricity and grid infrastructures. The KIT start-up project takes a different approach. "We skip the detour via electricity-based electrolysis and produce chemical energy from the sun and water," says co-founder Paul Kant from the Institute of Micro Process Engineering (IMVT) at KIT. Photovoltaics and electrolysis would be replaced by a single process step. The aim is to simplify hydrogen production and open up new fields of application.

The approach is based on the principle of so-called photocatalysis. Unlike photovoltaics, sunlight is not first converted into electricity. Instead, the irradiated energy directly triggers a chemical reaction, according to KIT. Specially developed light-active materials absorb the radiation energy and put electrons into an excited state. These drive the splitting of water (H2O) into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2).

Design is geared towards series production

Photreon implements this principle in a patent-pending photoreactor panel. The modular systems are designed to be suitable for both decentralized applications and larger plants. According to the company, the design is geared towards series production using standard industrial processes and utilizes cost-effective materials.

The technology is primarily aimed at applications where hydrogen can only be provided at great expense. These include medium-sized industrial companies that could cover their needs directly on site in future, for example in the specialty chemicals, food and metal processing industries.

Photreon also sees potential applications in large-scale projects in regions with high levels of solar radiation. "Our technology opens up new scope for local production, especially in places where there are neither electricity grids nor a connection to a hydrogen network."

By dispensing with electrolysers and electrical infrastructure, the concept aims to reduce the complexity of hydrogen production and enable new, off-grid value chains.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister