Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
LECTURE
Bruce Logan, PhD
Hydrogen and methane play vital roles in producing food and energy, but to slow climate change, they must be made and used in ways that release little or no carbon dioxide. This talk explores two new “green” methods for producing hydrogen without relying on fossil fuels when using
electricity from renewable sources, and a method to make renewable methane.
The first approach uses electricity to split water into hydrogen, even when the water is salty or otherwise impure. Researchers in Dr. Logan’s lab are developing a system that incorporates inexpensive membranes currently mass-produced for seawater desalination. These membranes
allow seawater to be used safely and efficiently, achieving performance like conventional systems that require more costly materials and highly purified water.
The second approach uses naturally occurring microorganisms to help generate hydrogen from organic material. These microbial systems require far less electricity than traditional methods. In addition, a new technique under development uses microbes to produce renewable methane
through a similar process based on renewable electricity.
Together, these technologies offer promising ways to produce clean hydrogen and renewable methane, helping reduce carbon emissions and move toward more sustainable energy systems
LECTURE
Bruce Logan, PhD
Hydrogen and methane play vital roles in producing food and energy, but to slow climate change, they must be made and used in ways that release little or no carbon dioxide. This talk explores two new “green” methods for producing hydrogen without relying on fossil fuels when using
electricity from renewable sources, and a method to make renewable methane.
The first approach uses electricity to split water into hydrogen, even when the water is salty or otherwise impure. Researchers in Dr. Logan’s lab are developing a system that incorporates inexpensive membranes currently mass-produced for seawater desalination. These membranes
allow seawater to be used safely and efficiently, achieving performance like conventional systems that require more costly materials and highly purified water.
The second approach uses naturally occurring microorganisms to help generate hydrogen from organic material. These microbial systems require far less electricity than traditional methods. In addition, a new technique under development uses microbes to produce renewable methane
through a similar process based on renewable electricity.
Together, these technologies offer promising ways to produce clean hydrogen and renewable methane, helping reduce carbon emissions and move toward more sustainable energy systems
