SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HyperSolar, Inc. (OTCQB:HYSR), the developer of a breakthrough technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, announced today a go-to-market product strategy for commercial low-cost solar, hydrogen systems.
“Hydrogen fuel has immense potential with both economic and social ramifications,” said HyperSolar CEO Tim Young. “Working with our partners at the University of Iowa and University of California, Santa Barbara, we believe we have come very far with respect to water-splitting and renewable hydrogen.”
One of the most expensive components in solar hydrogen systems is a high-voltage solar absorber. This absorber converts sunlight into electrons to enable the water-splitting reactions that create hydrogen. This year, HyperSolar’s research teams produced two different generations of their renewable hydrogen technology, in the hopes of entering niche markets initially, and ultimately dominating the global mass market.
GEN 1 – Amorphous Triple Junction Silicon Solar Cells (Cost Target = $4.90/kg of H2)
The first generation system uses existing solar cells from Xunlight (Kunshan) Co. Ltd. in China. Their commercially-available amorphous silicon triple-junction (a-Si) solar cells were used by HyperSolar to produce a fully-functional, large-scale prototype Solar Hydrogen Panel ( see video ). The goal for hydrogen production cost under the GEN 1 system, is $4.90 per Kg before pressurization. The Company is now focused on increasing long-term stability for GEN 1, which is crucial for commercial viability. HyperSolar’s goal is to demonstrate non-degraded performance for 365 hours of intensive operating conditions, which simulates one hour of peak sunlight per day, for a full year. In its latest laboratory tests, HyperSolar already surpassed 90 consecutive hours of durable hydrogen production. Due to the low cost of a-Si solar cells, many hydrogen pioneers have attempted to use them in solar hydrogen systems, but have all failed in achieving long-term stability. Based on research and feedback from peers, the Company believes that its results with a-Si cells are some of, if not, the most significant in the world. However, since a-Si cells have low efficiency, the market for this system is likely to be those with large land areas.
GEN 2 – Proprietary Patented Nanoparticle Solar Cells (Cost Target = $2.90/kg of H2)
The Company’s patented nanoparticle solar hydrogen technology is designed from the ground up to systematically reduce many cost components, and produce solar hydrogen at the most cost-efficient rate possible. The goal for hydrogen production under the GEN 2 system is $2.90 per Kg. While a high performance prototype has not been produced, HyperSolar has made significant progress on this GEN 2 technology, including a proprietary high-efficiency nanoparticle solar absorber design, oxygen catalyst, protective coating, low-cost manufacturing process, and an efficient panel design for safely separating hydrogen and oxygen.
One of the major benefits to the Company’s nanoparticle approach is that it can easily make billions per centimeter of nano-sized solar hydrogen generators, each operating independently of each other. If one nanoparticle were to break, billions more would still operate unaffected. This differs from the GEN 1 system and other conventional solar cell based systems in that a small defect on a solar cell can affect the output of the entire system.
Unlike conventional solar cells that require expensive high temperature and high-vacuum manufacturing processes, the Company’s process works on a roll-to-roll inexpensive wet chemistry process. HyperSolar is currently integrating and optimizing various components of this technology into a commercially viable high efficiency solar hydrogen panel. The Company believes this GEN 2 system represents the “holy grail” of clean energy. It has the potential to establish unmatched cost reductions in the hydrogen market, solving demand challenges and immediately making both consumer and industrial applications much more suitable for mass adoption.
Moving forward in 2018
In the coming months, the Company will send its prototype to a reputable third-party such as National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for testing and validation. HyperSolar believes this product roadmap will allow the Company to enter the hydrogen market quickly, and also the potential to completely revolutionize the global hydrogen market with a very low cost solar hydrogen technology.
Most hydrogen used today, be it a fleet of Plug Power forklifts at Walmart or the hydrogen fuel pumped into a Toyota Mirai, is produced using natural gas reforming. Because natural gas is a fossil fuel, the existing process will simply never work on a large scale and is one of the reasons the promising hydrogen market has experienced ups and downs. There is little point in using hydrogen if it is made from a fossil fuel.
HyperSolar’s goals for 2018 are clear: the research teams must reduce the costs of the system and its specific components, objectives that have become clear and achievable based upon our existing progress to date. Further, the Company must continue to optimize both routes to commercialization, GEN 1 and GEN 2, understanding that GEN 1 is a product that may soon undergo evaluation and review from partners, while GEN 2 has the potential to fundamentally change the way the world produces and consumes energy.
The market for hydrogen is growing all around us. Many scientists, innovators, and energy professionals from around the world believe that hydrogen fuel has immense potential. Led by some of the brightest scientific thinkers in this space who collaborate with their peers in the industry, HyperSolar’s story is one that can result in a better tomorrow by enabling anybody in the world to produce low-cost renewable hydrogen wherever there is sunshine and water. A world powered by solar hydrogen is one of energy independence, with peace and prosperity for all.
About HyperSolar, Inc. HyperSolar is developing a breakthrough, low cost technology to make renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, including seawater and wastewater. Unlike hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas, where carbon dioxide and other contaminants are released into the atmosphere when used, hydrogen fuel usage produces pure water as the only byproduct. By optimizing the science of water electrolysis at the nano-level, our low cost nanoparticles mimic photosynthesis to efficiently use sunlight to separate hydrogen from water, to produce environmentally friendly renewable hydrogen. Using our low cost method to produce renewable hydrogen, we intend to enable a world of distributed hydrogen production for renewable electricity and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. To learn more about HyperSolar, please visit our website at www.hypersolar.com .
Safe Harbor Statement Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.
Press Contact : Eric Fischgrund FischTank Marketing and PR 646-699-1414 Eric@FischTankPR.com
