Scientists in Australia have discovered a novel way to produce low-cost green hydrogen—by using human urine.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Carbon Science and Innovation (COE-CSI) have developed two electrolysis systems that generate hydrogen from urea – while cutting electricity use by up to 27% compared to traditional water splitting.
Hydrogen is widely considered a key clean energy solution, offering carbon-free fuel for industries where electrification is difficult.
However, most hydrogen is currently derived from fossil fuels, while clean methods like water electrolysis remain expensive due to high energy demand.
By harnessing urea found in urine, the scientists have sidestepped some of these challenges.
Their first system used a membrane-free setup with a copper catalyst and pure lab-grade urea.
Recognising that industrial urea is often made through a carbon-intensive process, the team’s second study replaced lab urea with actual human urine—a sustainable, readily available resource.
“Should these systems be scaled up, they produce harmless nitrogen gas and use significantly less electricity,” said Professor Yao Zheng, lead researcher on the project.
One major hurdle was urine’s chloride content, which corrodes electrolysis systems.
To counter this, the team developed a chlorine-mediated oxidation mechanism using platinum-based catalysts to redirect the chemical reactions, protecting the system and maintaining performance.
The researchers now aim to swap out expensive platinum with more accessible materials and build fully scalable membrane-free systems that clean wastewater while generating hydrogen.
