Abstract: A continuous process for releasing hydrogen using the dehydrogenation reaction of the formate-bicarbonate cycle, comprising continuously feeding an aqueous solution of formate and a heterogeneous catalyst to a dehydrogenation reactor to form bicarbonate and hydrogen, directing the hydrogen for use as a fuel hydrogen, removing a flowable effluent continuously from the dehydrogenation reactor at a rate equal to the feeding rate, and directing the effluent into a product tank, discharging a material from the product tank and separating the catalyst from the material, washing and refreshing the catalyst and returning the refreshed catalyst to the dehydrogenation reactor, wherein bicarbonate is collected in a solid form from the product tank.