Hydrogen from aluminum and water.
A different way to transport energy.
Aluminum can be used as a solid energy carrier: instead of necessarily transporting large quantities of hydrogen produced in advance, the STEAMH2 system is designed to generate it on-demand through a proprietary electrochemical process using recycled aluminum and water.
Why aluminum can generate hydrogen.
Aluminum has high chemical potential, but under ordinary conditions its surface is protected by an oxide layer that strongly limits interaction with water. Overcoming or controlling this passivation is one of the central challenges for systems designed to generate hydrogen through the aluminum-water interaction.
Solid energy carrier
Energy is carried in the solid material and converted within the system when required.
H₂ when needed
Hydrogen is generated at the point of use, reducing dependence on storing large quantities of pre-produced H₂.
Available water
STEAMH2 does not require distilled water as its primary feed and has also been validated with seawater.
A proprietary electrochemical architecture.
STEAMH2 modifies conditions at the aluminum interface, promoting interaction with water and the resulting hydrogen generation. The technology is being developed to use recycled aluminum without expensive catalysts such as gallium. The process also makes thermal energy available for recovery in integrated configurations.
A different approach to energy storage.
STEAMH2 does not directly store hydrogen in aluminum: it uses aluminum as a solid energy carrier and generates H₂ when required. Comparison with metal hydrides and compressed hydrogen therefore involves different energy architectures.
≈ 11,1%
H₂ / Al massTheoretical stoichiometric yield: 1 kg of reacted aluminum can generate about 0.111 kg of H₂. This is not the gravimetric capacity of the complete system.
≈ 1–2 wt%
Conventional intermetallic hydridesOrder of magnitude of material-level gravimetric capacity for several conventional families. Lightweight hydrides can reach higher values, with different thermal and kinetic trade-offs.
350–700 bar
High-pressure storageHydrogen is produced before use, compressed and stored in tanks designed for high pressure.
STEAMH2 does not store hydrogen in aluminum.
It stores the potential to generate it when needed.
Where on-demand generation becomes relevant.
Separating transport of the energy carrier from hydrogen generation opens possibilities for autonomous systems, marine and underwater applications, UAV platforms, distributed energy and off-grid configurations. In these applications, comparison should be made at complete-mission level: required endurance, mass, volume, water availability, power, thermal management and refueling logistics.