Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK have developed a scaled-up version of a solar-powered reactor which can convert plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel and industrial chemicals.

After demonstrating the reactor at laboratory scale, the researchers used scalable techniques to develop a larger outdoor prototype and demonstrate a pathway toward commercial-scale deployment.

The scaled-up device features a larger reactor of about one square meter, which has been tested under natural sunlight. The earlier version used a smaller reactor of about 25 square centimeters.

Instead of generating electricity like a conventional solar panel, the device triggers a chemical reaction that converts waste into useful products while converting water to release clean hydrogen. The results have been reported in the journal Nature Chemical Engineering.

The new panels can be assembled at room temperature without requiring special equipment. First, researchers spray the light-absorbing material onto a glass panel, then coat it with specially designed molecules containing cobalt and zirconium.

The reactor works on materials ranging from cellulose to plastic bottles, like those used for fizzy drinks. The researchers also carried out a cost analysis to determine the costs required to scale the technology up commercially.

The spray-coating method developed by the Cambridge researchers significantly reduces reactor production costs. However, the researchers say they still need to work on improving the durability and efficiency of the reactors before they are ready for commercial production.

The researchers have filed a patent for the technology with Cambridge Enterprise, the university’s innovation arm.

In April 2025, a Cornell University-led research team developed a sustainable, low-cost method to produce carbon-free green hydrogen using only sunlight and seawater as inputs.

Industry experts expect green hydrogen to play a larger role in the clean energy ecosystem in the coming decade. In India, while the supply side of the green hydrogen market has progressed significantly, the demand and offtake side remain a challenge. However, experts believe a stronger green hydrogen ecosystem is likely to address the offtake problem over time.