Producing green hydrogen yourself in the classroom
Green hydrogen plays a central role in the climate-friendly energy supply of the future. It can store electricity generated from renewable sources and later convert it back into energy. Below, we show how this process works and how it can be taught in a practical way in the classroom.
With Christiani’s energy kits, students can experience the entire process for themselves, from energy generation to the use of hydrogen. In the experiment, under careful supervision, they produce hydrogen, generate the required energy themselves using solar or wind power, and thus gain an understanding of the complete energy process – from energy generation through electrolysis to storage and subsequent use in a fuel cell.
Christiani’s experimental systems for renewable energy are unique
The Solar Trainer, Wind Trainer and H₂ Trainer experimental systems can be operated individually to explore the respective technologies for energy generation and storage. Combining the Solar Trainer or Wind Trainer with the H₂ Trainer opens up a whole range of other possibilities for exciting experiments in the classroom:
- Producing green hydrogen yourself
- Electrolysis: the splitting of water (H₂O) into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂)
- Storing the hydrogen
- Using the energy in a fuel cell
The complete process chain from energy generation to the production of green hydrogen
How can green hydrogen be produced in the classroom?
The production of (green) hydrogen is a complex process. With Christiani’s energy kits, pupils can follow every step of the process – from generating energy from solar or wind power, through electrolysis, to the storage and use of the hydrogen. The students generate the required energy themselves and use it to produce green hydrogen. There’s no better way to teach this technology in the classroom!
To do this, the experiment kits are combined, depending on whether the green energy is to be generated by photovoltaics or wind power. The teaching system makes the link between renewable energy and hydrogen particularly easy to understand, as the individual steps of energy conversion become directly visible in the classroom. The accompanying materials guide you and your students step by step through the experiments.
Producing green hydrogen yourself using solar energy
With this experimental setup, pupils can produce green hydrogen themselves using solar energy. To do this, the Christiani Solar Trainer Junior is combined with the H₂ Trainer Junior.
The Solar Trainer’s solar cells convert light energy into electrical energy. Pupils can observe how different light intensities or angles of incidence affect the electricity generated. They can even simulate how the position of the sun changes over the course of a day. In this way, they gain important insights into the interactions between solar radiation and the solar energy harvested.
How can this solar energy be stored?
This is where the H₂ Trainer Junior comes into play. The energy generated by the Solar Trainer is transferred to the H₂ Trainer’s electrolyser in the form of electrical energy. In the electrolyser, the energy is used to split water (H₂O) into its constituent parts: hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂). This process can be observed in the gas storage tank.
The hydrogen produced can then be converted back into electrical energy in the fuel cell, making the entire energy cycle – from generation through to storage and reuse – fully traceable. Students can therefore produce hydrogen themselves using photovoltaics – in a climate-neutral way and entirely from renewable energy sources. This is green hydrogen.
Producing green hydrogen yourself using wind power
The experiment to produce green hydrogen can also be carried out using wind energy instead of solar energy. The wind generator drives a turbine, which generates energy.
Using the experiment kit, students generate their own wind energy and learn which factors influence energy production, such as wind speed, the position of the wind turbine blades and other factors.
The electrical energy generated by the Wind Trainer Junior is also used in the H₂ Trainer Junior. Through electrolysis, water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen, which can be stored for later use. Students can experience the entire process from wind energy to stored hydrogen first-hand, recognise the interrelationships and identify the influencing factors.
It is also possible to make a direct comparison between solar energy and energy generated from wind power. In a safe experimental setup, students understand how both energy sources can be used to produce green hydrogen. A clear set of instructions guides them step by step through the experiments.
What is the production process that students go through when producing green hydrogen?
Christiani’s hands-on experiment kits are ideal for bringing the entire process chain involved in producing green hydrogen to life. Students learn how solar and wind energy is converted into electricity, how this is then converted into hydrogen, and how it can subsequently be converted back into electrical energy in a fuel cell. This provides a clear overview of modern energy systems and the role of hydrogen in the energy transition.
Christiani’s training system is suitable for use in schools and vocational colleges, particularly for STEM lessons and subjects such as physics, chemistry and technology. In addition to the broad topic of renewable energy, it can also be used to cover topics such as hydrogen as an energy carrier, efficiency, energy losses, stand-alone solutions and many others.
A comprehensive learning pathway on the generation and use of renewable energy
- Use of solar or wind energy
- Conversion into electrical energy
- Electrolysis: production of hydrogen
- Storage of hydrogen
- How a fuel cell works
- Use as electrical energy
How does hydrogen work as an energy storage medium in a classroom experiment?
One of the key challenges of the energy transition is making energy from renewable sources available when it is actually needed. Students learn through hands-on experiments that hydrogen is a suitable energy carrier for this purpose. Through clear, practical experiments, they can understand how energy storage works and how hydrogen can be converted back into electrical energy in a fuel cell.
Hydrogen teaching resources: What experiments and measurements can be carried out?
The H₂ Trainer from Christiani can be used to carry out various experiments on the production and storage of hydrogen for use in fuel cells. All experiments are explained in detail in the accompanying documentation.
Specific examples of how the H₂ Trainer can be used for experiments in the classroom:
- Measuring the volume ratio of the gases produced
- Measuring the volumes of gas produced per unit of time as a function of current
- Determining the energy and Faraday efficiencies of the electrolyser
- Determining the current-voltage characteristic curve of the electrolyser
- Determining the energy and Faraday efficiencies of the fuel cell
- Determining the voltage-current characteristic curve of the fuel cell
- Operating the electrolyser using solar cells
- Operating the electrolyser using a wind turbine
Why is the H₂ training system, which includes solar and wind trainers, suitable for teachers and trainers?
The unique combination of energy generation from renewable sources, hydrogen production, storage and reconversion into energy via a fuel cell is what makes Christiani’s experimental system so special. This hands-on training system for green hydrogen is unique in its form, as it fully replicates the entire process chain. This makes the abstract, forward-looking topic of green hydrogen tangibly accessible in the classroom. The modular design allows for experiments using solar energy, wind energy or a combination of both energy sources.
The renewable energy experiment kits are ideal for use in vocational training and in schools, including at vocational colleges for STEM projects and energy technology lessons.
Experiment guides for renewable energy experiments included
Each of the three experiment kits – the Solar Trainer, Wind Trainer and H₂ Trainer – comes with clear experiment guides that explain all the experiments step by step.
As an example, we have provided a sample of the H₂ Trainer guide here
Full steam ahead: an experimental system for wind, solar and hydrogen
With the Solar Trainer Junior, the Wind Trainer Junior and the H₂ Trainer Junior, the entire process chain of the energy transition can be explored in a practical way in the classroom – from generating electricity from solar and wind power, through conversion into hydrogen, to reconversion into electrical energy in a fuel cell.
Advice on teaching methods for green hydrogen in the classroom
Are renewable energies and green hydrogen your area of interest? If so, please get in touch with us. We’d be happy to advise you on the possibilities these experimental kits offer in the classroom, either individually or in combination.
Give us a call or drop us a line!