PyroGenesis Canada Inc, the high-tech materials group, said it had announced the launch of a new zero-carbon emission (ZCE) hydrogen production technology using a plasma process, which is expected to compete with conventional methods of production.
The method, which converts methane into hydrogen, is now entering a testing phase and the hydrogen generated by this process is called 'Turquoise Hydrogen', the company said.
PyroGenesis also noted that it had filed an international application with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) called 'Hydrogen production from hydrocarbons by plasma pyrolysis'. This covers the company’s process for producing hydrogen from methane and other light hydrocarbons using thermal plasma without generating greenhouse gases (GHGs).
"The conventional method to produce hydrogen is called “Steam Methane Reforming”, which produces GHGs as a result," P. Peter Pascali, CEO of PyroGenesis told investors in a statement.
READ: PyroGenesis Canada focusing on its emission reducing offerings as it posts higher revenue in 3Q
"Another technology used to produce hydrogen is called “Water Electrolysis”. It has been around for many years and is considered to be a ZCE technology. The hydrogen generated from this process is generally referred to as “Green Hydrogen”, however it is recognized to (i) be relatively expensive, (ii) require a lot of energy, and (iii) use rare earth materials," he added.
The company boss said his firm's new technology was expected to "combine the best of both worlds", and was expected to be cheaper than any existing hydrogen process while at the same time producing ZCE hydrogen.
"The company does not expect that this new process would compete with its iron ore pelletization offering where fossil fuel burners are replaced with plasma torches but, in fact, would complement theses plasma torch offerings by providing a hydrogen alternative elsewhere in the manufacturing process," added Pascali.
PyroGenesis said its technology boasts a theoretical electricity cost, which is three times lower than that of water electrolysis to produce the same amount of hydrogen making it one of the most energy-efficient technologies to produce ZCE hydrogen.
The technology would be easily scalable, and its capital cost per hydrogen production unit is comparable to that of steam methane reforming technology, the most established commercial technology to produce hydrogen, the firm added.
Pierre Carabin, chief technology officer and chief strategist of PyroGenesis, noted: "There is a high demand for technologies that use clean renewable electricity. Currently, the only commercially available process to produce clean hydrogen is water electrolysis. In this process, electrical energy is used to convert water to hydrogen and oxygen.
"However, the water electrolysis process suffers from several drawbacks, including high energy consumption and the need for a high quantity of rare materials, which is not sustainable. We believe our new proprietary hydrogen production process will be much more energy efficient, cost-effective and scalable than other forms of hydrogen production.”
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com