Production of Hydrogen from Biomass and Organic Waste

Dear Colleagues,

The urgent need to decarbonize global energy systems has positioned hydrogen at the forefront of sustainable energy research. As a clean and versatile energy carrier with high gravimetric energy density and zero emissions at the point of use, hydrogen is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality and supporting the transition to a circular, low-carbon economy. At present, however, industrial hydrogen production remains heavily reliant on fossil fuels—particularly natural gas through steam methane reforming—resulting in substantial greenhouse gas emissions. This dependency underscores the necessity of developing renewable and environmentally sustainable hydrogen production pathways. Among the most promising alternatives is the valorization of biomass and organic waste streams. These feedstocks are abundant, renewable, and often underutilized, offering a dual benefit: the generation of clean hydrogen and the mitigation of environmental burdens associated with waste management. Hydrogen can be derived from biomass and organic residues through a range of thermochemical (e.g., gasification, pyrolysis, and reforming), biochemical (e.g., dark fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and photofermentation), and emerging hybrid processes such as photocatalysis and electro-biochemical systems. Each pathway presents unique challenges and opportunities in terms of efficiency, scalability, feedstock variability, and integration with the existing energy infrastructures.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances, challenges, and opportunities in hydrogen production from biomass and organic waste. We welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following:

• Innovative thermochemical and biochemical conversion technologies.
• Catalytic systems and process intensification strategies.
• Feedstock characterization, pre-treatment, and valorization.
• Integration with carbon capture and utilization (CCU).
• Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA).
• Policy, regulatory, and market frameworks.
• Pilot- and industrial-scale demonstrations.

By assembling original research articles, reviews, case studies, and perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for advancing scientific knowledge, technological innovation, and policy insight. Our objective is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration among researchers, engineers, and decision-makers, thereby accelerating the deployment of biomass- and waste-derived hydrogen systems. Ultimately, this Special Issue aspires to chart a path forward for sustainable hydrogen production, leveraging the untapped potential of organic resources to enhance energy security, environmental sustainability, and circular economy principles.

Dr. Nadia Cerone
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.