Floating Solar-Powered Panel Simultaneously Breaks Down Plastic and Produces Hydrogen<br />Eng. Nourhan Thamer Assi<br /><br />Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)<br />This innovation supports multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals:<br />Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Producing clean hydrogen fuel from sunlight.<br />Goal 13: Climate Action – Reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change.<br />Goal 14: Life Below Water – Helping remove plastic pollution from oceans and waterways.<br />Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Converting waste (plastics) into useful energy.<br /><br />A team of South Korean scientists has developed a groundbreaking floating solar-powered panel that tackles two of the planet’s most pressing issues—plastic pollution and the demand for clean energy. This dual-function device breaks down plastic waste in water while simultaneously generating hydrogen gas, a renewable fuel source.<br /><br />At the heart of the technology is a hydrogel-embedded photocatalyst that floats naturally and efficiently on water surfaces. It absorbs sunlight with high efficiency and initiates a chemical reaction when exposed to light. The system is designed to target common plastics, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), breaking them down into smaller molecules while releasing hydrogen gas as a byproduct.<br /><br />In field trials, a 1 m² prototype panel operated continuously for over 40 days in both freshwater and seawater, demonstrating excellent long-term durability and performance stability. The hydrogen produced is captured and stored for potential use as a clean fuel.<br />The researchers aim to scale up the technology, developing 10 to 100 m² panels that can be deployed on polluted water bodies for cost-effective, large-scale clean-up and energy generation. This innovation not only offers a sustainable method for producing hydrogen but also presents a viable solution for reducing floating plastic debris in marine and freshwater environments.<br /><br />Conclusion<br />This floating solar panel represents a transformative step forward in environmental technology by combining plastic waste degradation with renewable hydrogen production. Scalable and efficient, it aligns with global sustainability goals and offers a promising pathway for addressing climate change and pollution through one integrated platform.<br /><br />"Al-Mustaqbal University – The No. 1 Private University in Iraq"<br /><br /><br />