The Israeli Breakthrough That Will Make Green Hydrogen Accessible

The climate crisis threatens to fundamentally change our lives. This critical crisis is driving countries, companies and citizens to find solutions that will reduce global emissions and stop the devastating effects on the planet. Apart from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the solution that may lead the next revolution lies in green hydrogen – a clean energy source that promises a better environmental future.

"We're talking about using two simple elements that surround us – hydrogen and oxygen," explains Eli Sharvit, chairman of QD-SOL. "When you combine them in a clean process, only energy and water are obtained, with no harm to the environment."

QD-SOL, an Israeli technology company, has developed an innovative technology that enables the production of green hydrogen using only sunlight, without the need for electricity or complex infrastructures.

The company offers ultra-green technology that puts the sun back at the center of the world's energy solutions. With this innovative development, the company is breaking ground into a new era, where clean energy will be available even in remote areas, making it possible to reduce dependence on polluting fuels.

QD-SOL's vision is fully compatible with the global transition to renewable energies, with a special emphasis on production of green hydrogen in an ultra-green and pollution-free process. "The world," says Sharvit, "needs energy that is not only green and non-polluting, but one whose production process is also based on natural resources such as the sunlight, hydrogen and oxygen, without any harmful emissions."

What makes QD-SOL's technology ultra-green?
"When you use hydrogen that is created in a polluting process, the resulting energy isn't truly green. It negatively impacts the entire system. Our technology focuses on producing truly green hydrogen – a completely clean process based solely on sunlight."

How is the market responding to your technology?
"There is an enormous demand for green hydrogen. Many industries, such as the chemicals and renewable energy sectors, need hydrogen not only as an energy source, but also as a raw material. If we succeed in supplying green hydrogen at a competitive price, the entire market will be ours. At the moment, we are in meetings with players in the energy, chemical and fertilizer sectors, all of whom are interested in green hydrogen. All this with the aim of creating business and technological collaborations to accelerate the commercialization of the technology."

QD-SOL is not only engaged in green hydrogen production – the company is also involved in hydrogen-based energy storage solutions, which provide a solution for use during hours when renewable electricity production is limited. Through these solutions, a clean and stable energy supply is possible throughout the day, which contributes significantly to meeting global net zero targets.

The innovative company, established in November 2021, represents a unique combination of groundbreaking academic research and a practical entrepreneurial vision. QD-SOL relies on research from the Technion in the field of nanoparticles, which found a way to produce hydrogen directly from sunlight – independent of electricity.

How did you reach this technological achievement?
"I may sound biased, but it's really like reinventing the wheel. We realized that with water, nanoparticles and solar energy it is possible to create a reaction that produces hydrogen. From there, the journey of development began – from the first microgram we were able to produce, we moved to grams, and then to a panel the size of a square meter that operates autonomously and produces hydrogen for extended periods of time."

What is the special advantage of this technology?
"Our panels eliminate the need to transport hydrogen, which is a significant challenge in industry. They can be installed anywhere there is sunlight, and they produce hydrogen directly on-site. Our goal is to reach a cost of less than two dollars per kilogram of hydrogen, which will position us as a competitive player in the market."

Panels that can be replicated in large fields
QD-SOL is in the advanced stages of developing a commercial system, with panels that can be replicated for large fields. The technology is based on readily available materials, which allows for low-cost production and future upgrades as development progresses.

What were the main challenges you faced in developing the technology?
"When developing something completely new, there is no way to build on previous experience. We had to build everything from scratch – from understanding the processes at the molecular level to creating a system that works autonomously. Another challenge was to ensure that the process would be stable and efficient in the long term, especially when the goal is commercialization on a global scale."

In addition to the technological challenges, you had to deal with working during the war. How did that affect your activity?
"The security situation is complex, but our team continued to work out of a tremendous commitment to the goal. Even in challenging conditions, the employees remained focused, from an understanding that our work is part of something bigger."

In the meantime, you've also become a public company.
"That's right, in September we completed a deal in which the public company Internet Gold Golden Lines, which is traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, acquired QD-SOL, turning us into a wholly-owned subsidiary of a public company. When you become a public company, you not only have to prove the technology, but also show the market that we can meet our investors' expectations. But it's a welcome process, because alongside the technological innovation we present professional management that generates trust and transparency, and the public platform allows us to expand the scope of activity."

QD-SOL has garnered a lot of interest, with investments totaling about $6 million coming from private investors and international awards. Among its outstanding achievements, the company won first place among 780 competitors from all over the Middle East in the prestigious Forbes-Aviram Innovation Competition and was awarded a cash prize of half a million dollars, which took place in the presence of former US President Bill Clinton.

Also, the company received a grant of NIS 4.6 million from the Innovation Authority, which is further proof of the groundbreaking potential of the technology it is developing.

QD-SOL's ability to expand quickly is a significant advantage: the technology works from the first panel and can be produced on a massive scale. The technology eliminates the need for expensive facilities or distilled water, and enables hydrogen production directly from ordinary water sources. The production process also ensures independence from the electricity grid and from volatile energy prices. Furthermore, the advanced panels can be upgraded to newer generations without the need to replace the system, a clear economic advantage for customers.

QD-SOL is preparing for collaborations with energy funds and global corporations to accelerate the use of green hydrogen as part of the global energy chain. "In this way," says Sharvit, "we are building an ecosystem of technologies and clean energies that speak the same language. Our technology," he adds, "reaches the heart of sustainable development goals. In addition to reducing emissions, we enable the creation of new jobs, especially in developing areas, and encourage the transition to renewable energies as a basis for a stable global economy."

QD-SOL represents a rare encounter between a global vision and Israeli achievement, proving that it is possible to lead a global revolution even from a small country. "The clean energy solution that we produce from Ness Tziona," says Sharvit, "provides hope for a green future where humanity can consume energy without harming the environment."

What are you hoping to achieve in the near future?
"Our goal is clear – to be a major and leading player in the global energy field. We intend to expand the use of our technology to large hydrogen fields around the world and lead the transition to renewable energy. Beyond that, it is important for us to show that Israel is a leader in the energy field, with technology that not only solves problems but also creates a new reality."

QD-SOL
Year established: 2021
Founders: Blue Ocean Sustainability Fund, Yaron Kaiser, Lior Yedidia and Prof. Lilach Amirav
Field of activity: Technology for ultra-green hydrogen production
Leading motto: There is no such thing as "impossible"

To the company website>>

In collaboration with QD-SOL