South Korea’s Solar-Powered Breakthrough Turns Plastic into Hydrogen

South Korean researchers at KAIST developed a solar-powered system that converts plastic waste into hydrogen fuel, achieving 90% efficiency. Unveiled in 2025, this technology addresses plastic pollution and clean energy needs, offering potential for India’s 3.4 million tonnes of annual plastic waste.

The KAIST system uses a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell with a bismuth vanadate anode to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) under sunlight. The process yields 1.2 kg of hydrogen per kg of PET, with 90% conversion efficiency, producing formic acid as a byproduct for industrial use. Published in Nature Communications, the study shows stability over 100 hours, with a 4 cm² cell generating 1.5 mmol hydrogen/hour.

Plastic waste, at 460 million tonnes globally in 2023, poses environmental risks, with 70% landfilled or incinerated. India generates 3.4 million tonnes annually, with 40% uncollected. The KAIST system could process India’s PET waste (1 million tonnes) to produce 1.2 million tonnes of hydrogen, meeting 10% of its 2030 green hydrogen target (5 million tonnes). The system’s low-cost materials, at $10/m², make it 30% cheaper than platinum-based PEC cells.

The technology integrates with solar farms, requiring 1 MW to process 1 tonne of PET daily. South Korea’s 18 GW solar capacity supports scaling, while India’s 108 GW solar capacity offers potential, though only 2% of waste is recycled. Pilot projects in Seoul, processing 100 kg PET daily, show 95% reduction in waste volume. India’s Swachh Bharat Mission could adopt similar systems, but lack of waste segregation increases costs by 25%.

Challenges include scaling to industrial levels, with current cells limited to 100 cm², and handling mixed plastics, which reduces efficiency by 15%. Energy-intensive pretreatment, at 0.5 kWh/kg, and water purity requirements add costs. India’s MNRE is exploring PEC pilots in Gujarat, with $50 million allocated in 2025, but regulatory gaps for hydrogen infrastructure persist.

Conclusion

KAIST’s solar-powered system transforms plastic waste into hydrogen, addressing pollution and energy needs. India could leverage this technology to manage its plastic waste and meet green hydrogen goals, but scaling and infrastructure challenges require policy support.

Source: Sustainability Times