A team of scientists from the University of NSW’s Centre for Materials and Energy Conversion, believe within seven years they will be able to produce a solar panel which produces hydrogen. It has been suggested if 1.6 million individual households equipped their roofs with 10m x 10m of solar hydrogen panels they would meet all of Australia’s energy needs.

The panels would use a special titanium oxide ceramic that harvests sunlight and splits water to produce hydrogen fuel without creating any greenhouse gases or other pollutants. This hydrogen gas could then be used for transport, heating and cooking, or used in fuel cells to generate electricity.

The UNSW work is currently backed by Rio Tinto, Sialon Ceramics and Austral Bricks.

» Solar hydrogen - energy of the future - UNSW - August 16th, 2004
» Future shock: cities reduced to silence - The Age - August 27th, 2004
» Titanium Dioxide Key to Producing Hydrogen Fuel from Sunlight - Azon.com - August 26th, 2004