On November 2nd, KPMG Private Enterprise announced that HiiROC, the developer of a system to produce low-cost, zero-emission hydrogen, has been named the KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator winner at the final event in Lisbon, Portugal, overcoming fierce competition from over 1,100 applicants across 22 countries and jurisdictions during the national stages.
HiiROC’s proprietary technology converts biomethane, flare gas or natural gas into clean hydrogen and carbon black, through an innovative electrolysis process using thermal plasma. This results in zero CO2 “turquoise hydrogen” at a comparable cost to steam methane reforming but without the emissions and using only one fifth of the energy required by water electrolysis.
The solid carbon byproduct, carbon black, has applications ranging from tyres, building materials and as a soil enhancer. Its production using HiiROC’s technology avoids the emissions and pollution inherent in the predominant oil furnace manufacturing process.
The HiiROC technology can be placed where hydrogen is needed, thereby using existing infrastructure and avoiding storage and transport costs. HiiROC has strong growth potential right across the hydrogen economy from grid injection and electricity generation to decarbonising industry by replacing natural gas, flare mitigation and synthetic fuels. Initial projects include the 400kg/day hydrogen facility in Germany, recently announced by Wintershall Dea and VNG as well as at EPi’s biomethane pilot plant in Chelmsford, and with Northern Gas Networks as part of its hydrogen programme.
Centrica and HiiROC to inject hydrogen at Brigg gas-fired power station in UK first project
Centrica Business Solutions is set to start injecting hydrogen into its existing gas peaking plant at Brigg, Lincolnshire as part of a UK first trial with HiiROC aimed at better understanding the role of hydrogen in power production.
The 12 month trial will be part funded by a grant from the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), which has given 20 projects a total of £8m through its Open Innovation Programme. Each is aimed at developing technology which could reduce emissions offshore, accelerate clean energy production and enable the delivery of the UK’s net zero ambitions.
The 49MW gas fired plant at Brigg is designed to meet demand during peak times or when generation from renewables is low, typically operating for less than three hours a day. Mixing hydrogen in with natural gas reduces the overall carbon intensity.
It’s anticipated that during the trial, getting underway in Q3 2023, no more than three per cent of the gas mix could be hydrogen, increasing to 20% incrementally after the project. Longer term, the vision is to move towards 100% hydrogen and to deploy similar technology across all gas-fired peaking plant.
HiiROC’s proprietary technology converts biomethane, flare gas or natural gas into clean hydrogen and carbon black, through an innovative Thermal Plasma Electrolysis process. This results in a low carbon, or potentially negative carbon, ‘emerald hydrogen’.
Because the byproduct comes in the form of a valuable, solid, pure carbon it can be easily captured and used in applications ranging from tyres, rubbers and toners, and in new use cases like building materials and even as a soil enhancer.
HiiROC is a technology company established in 2019 to develop and commercialise its plasma torch technology in the production of hydrogen from biomethane, flare gas and natural gas through Thermal Plasma Electrolysis.
HiiROC’s proprietary technology enables the low-cost, zero emission production of hydrogen at a comparable cost to steam methane reforming but without the emissions and using only one fifth of the energy required by water electrolysis. Plants can be small to industrial scale based on the modular design and can be located at the point of demand thereby avoiding transport costs and enabling the use of existing infrastructure.
HiiROC employs around 40 people with its development centre located in Hull, UK.
Explainer Video
Source: HiiROC
Website:
https://hiiroc.com/