Scientists Create Hydrogen Fuel Using Only Liquid Metal, Sunlight, and Seawater
Netherlands, Tuesday, 10 February 2026.
University of Sydney researchers achieved a breakthrough by producing green hydrogen using liquid gallium, concentrated sunlight, and seawater—eliminating the need for expensive pure water. The process reached 98% efficiency even on cloudy days and offers a circular system where gallium can be recovered and reused. This innovation addresses key challenges in scaling hydrogen production, potentially making it competitive with fossil fuels while utilizing abundant seawater resources.
Revolutionary Gallium-Based Process Shows Remarkable Efficiency
The breakthrough technology developed by University of Sydney researchers utilizes a sophisticated process involving sound waves to create small droplets of liquid gallium, which are then placed in water and exposed to sunlight [1]. The reaction produces hydrogen gas while creating gallium-oxyhydroxide that flakes off, allowing the reaction to continue until all gallium is converted [1]. During experimental testing, researchers achieved nearly maximum yield within 1.5 hours using concentrated sunlight, and remarkably, attained 98% of the theoretical yield within 2 hours even on a cloudy winter day [1]. The complete process, encompassing both hydrogen production and gallium recovery, demonstrates an efficiency of approximately 13% [1].
Circular Economy Approach Addresses Cost Concerns
A critical advantage of this technology lies in its circular design, where gallium can be recovered and reused throughout the process [1]. When solar panel electricity powers the recovery process, the entire system becomes fully green [1]. While gallium, primarily obtained as a byproduct of aluminum production, costs several hundred euros per kilogram [1], researchers suggest that the ability to reuse gallium combined with free sunlight and abundant seawater could make costs acceptable over time [1]. The reaction offers significant safety benefits by releasing only hydrogen without oxygen, eliminating safety risks associated with oxygen production, while maintaining temperatures below water’s boiling point [1].
Seawater Advantage Transforms Production Economics
The technology’s ability to function with seawater represents a fundamental shift from traditional electrolysis methods that require expensive pure water [1]. This breakthrough addresses one of the most significant cost barriers in green hydrogen production, as seawater is abundant and essentially free [GPT]. The process demonstrates remarkable simplicity - using concentrated sunlight and seawater to produce green hydrogen, with salt simply washing away afterward [1]. This contrasts sharply with conventional methods where water purification adds substantial operational costs and complexity to hydrogen production facilities [GPT].
Industrial Scaling Challenges and Market Context
Despite the promising laboratory results, researchers acknowledge that scaling the process for industrial applications presents significant challenges, as current experiments have been conducted with small quantities [1]. This challenge comes at a time when the hydrogen sector is experiencing substantial growth momentum. The Netherlands, where interest in hydrogen technology is particularly strong, allocated €380 million in subsidies from the Climate Fund for offshore hydrogen demonstration projects in 2024 [2]. Industry surveys revealed 56 responses from various parties interested in offshore hydrogen production, including 17 project developers and 13 engineering firms [2], though respondents indicated that realizing the first major project by 2027 was not feasible and considered 2029 more realistic [2].