Russian scientists develop system to produce water, electricity and clean hydrogen fuel

Monday 31 August 2026 - 16:44

By: Azzat Manal

Russian scientists develop system to produce water, electricity and clean hydrogen fuel

Scientists at a technical university in St. Petersburg have developed a proposed integrated system designed to produce fresh water, electricity and low-carbon hydrogen fuel within the same facility.

The concept, presented in research published in Progress in Energy, aims to address several challenges associated with the transition to cleaner energy, including the high cost of hydrogen production, the intermittent nature of renewable electricity and the large quantities of freshwater required by conventional electrolysis.

According to the researchers, many existing green hydrogen projects depend heavily on solar and wind power. While these sources can significantly reduce emissions, their output varies with weather conditions, which can make hydrogen production less predictable.

The proposed Russian system seeks to overcome this limitation by using a small modular reactor based on supercritical carbon dioxide technology. The reactor would provide a continuous source of thermal energy that could be converted into electricity and subsequently used for hydrogen production.

A central feature of the concept is the efficient use of heat. Instead of allowing thermal energy to go to waste, the system is designed to use it successively for different purposes. Heat generated by the reactor could first contribute to electricity production, while remaining thermal energy could then support hydrogen generation from purified water.

Under certain operating conditions, excess heat could also be used to desalinate seawater. This would allow the facility to produce its own freshwater supply and reduce its dependence on external water resources, an important consideration for regions affected by water scarcity.

The researchers have examined two possible operating models. One would allow the facility to function independently and produce the water required for its operations. The second would treat desalinated water as an additional commercial product that could be sold separately.

Preliminary economic estimates indicate that hydrogen produced through the proposed system could eventually cost around $2.93 per kilogram, compared with approximately $6 per kilogram under current conditions cited by the researchers. The figures remain projections, however, and could change as the technology moves toward practical implementation.

The compact design of the proposed reactor could also make the system suitable for locations where land and infrastructure are limited. Its ability to combine energy production, hydrogen generation and water desalination could provide an integrated solution for areas seeking more reliable low-carbon energy supplies.

However, the technology is still at the research and development stage. The reactor used in the researchers' model is not yet ready for commercial production, meaning further engineering work, testing and regulatory approval would be required before such facilities could be deployed on a large scale.

If the underlying technology reaches commercial maturity, the researchers believe similar hydrogen and water production facilities could be designed for different regions according to local energy and resource needs.

The project reflects a broader international effort to develop hydrogen production systems that are less dependent on weather conditions and freshwater availability. By combining continuous nuclear energy with hydrogen production and desalination, the proposed approach could offer another pathway toward more resilient low-carbon energy systems.