NOVELTY - Water splitting involves use of an alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate (e.g. carbonate or hydroxide) in a thermochemical cycle for water splitting. The alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate is introduced into a water splitting system containing water, and then separated to produce reaction intermediates. A subset of the reaction intermediates is reacted with the water to produce hydrogen and hydroxide.    USE - For producing hydrogen and oxygen from water.    ADVANTAGE - The use of the alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate, facilitates water splitting. Thus, the water splitting method enhances production of hydrogen and oxygen via the novel thermochemical cycle involving use of the alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate. The thermochemical cycle is driven by renewable energy sources that efficiently separates water into its components i.e. hydrogen and oxygen. The thermochemical cycle operates in absence of solids, and operates at a maximum operating temperature of less than or equal to1173 K. The heat generated by series of thermochemical reactions of the cycle, is used to produce power and/or electricity.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Water splitting involves use of an alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate (e.g. carbonate or hydroxide) in a thermochemical cycle for water splitting. The alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate is introduced into a water splitting system containing water, and then separated to produce reaction intermediates. A subset of the reaction intermediates is reacted with the water to produce hydrogen and hydroxide. Another subset of the reaction intermediates is combined with the produced hydroxide to generate water and oxygen. The alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate is reformed for continued use in the system, and the generated hydrogen and oxygen are removed from the water splitting system. Heat is further removed from the system, preferably using fuel cells or turbines, to generate power and/or electricity from the heat. The alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate is preferably combined with a transition metal.    An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for the system for water splitting, comprising several interconnected reaction vessels, to receive water and to admit the alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate, during which the water undergoes a series of thermochemical reactions with the alkali metal based or alkali earth metal based process intermediate, and hydrogen and oxygen are recoverable from the system.