5 Companies and Startups Making Strides in Blue Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen has emerged as a promising clean energy source, but its production methods have faced significant environmental challenges. Traditional methods rely heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Blue hydrogen offers a solution by combining natural gas reforming with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, significantly reducing the environmental impact of hydrogen production.
Blue hydrogen has numerous benefits. It lowers the carbon footprint of hydrogen production, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change.
Additionally, it leverages existing natural gas infrastructure, making it a cost-effective and scalable solution. Blue hydrogen also plays a crucial role in decarbonizing various sectors, including transportation, power generation, and industrial processes.
As the demand for clean energy solutions grows, several companies invest in blue hydrogen production.
This article will explore five companies and startups at the forefront of this development, shedding light on their innovative approaches, technological advancements, and ambitious plans to revolutionize the energy landscape.
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1. G4 Insights Inc. Meeting Energy Needs with Its PCH Technology
| Founding Year | 2008 |
| Headquarter | British Columbia, Canada |
| Total Funding Amount | $5 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Grant/$2.8 Million |
| Website | http://www.g4insights.com/ |
Natural gas accounts for 23% of global energy needs, and its demand outstrips domestic supply in regions like Western Europe and China. This gap contributes to the push for increased energy independence and security.
G4’s proprietary PyroCatalytic Hydrogenation (PCH) technology addresses these challenges by producing carbon-neutral, pipeline-grade renewable natural gas from domestically sourced renewable biomass.
The startup’s PCH is a low-temperature thermochemical process for producing clean, low-cost renewable natural gas (RNG) from lignocellulosic biomass. It employs a low-temperature process for directly converting pyrolyzed biomass into methane, bypassing the conventional gasification/methanation procedures that initially generate syngas before methane.
This method effectively eliminates the generation of polyaromatics and substantially decreases tar formation.
The technology is undergoing the demonstration phase, and G4’s core processes are approaching the desired commercial performance benchmarks.
PCH stands out economically due to its high energy conversion efficiency and capability to utilize low-value feedstock. The RNG gas integrated with a combined cycle power generator achieves over 50% higher wood energy to power conversion efficiency than other biomass energy technologies.
It offers a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) 20% lower than wind power, marking a significant advancement in renewable energy solutions.
The startup management team has two principles: Matt Babicki and Edson Ng. Matt holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta, and Edson has a B.Sc. in Physics from the University of British Columbia.
G4 received a grant of $2.8M on October 28, 2019, from investors including FPInnovations and Natural Resources Canada.
2. Horisont Energi Producing Clean Blue Hydrogen with CSS
| Founding Year | 2016 |
| Headquarter | Rogaland, Norway |
| Total Funding Amount | Publicly Not Disclosed |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Publicly Not Disclosed |
| Website | https://horisontenergi.no/ |
Traditional ammonia and blue hydrogen production methods are energy-intensive and emit large amounts of CO2. Also, global dependency on fossil fuels for energy production contributes to environmental degradation and climate change through significant carbon emissions.
Horisont Energi is a clean energy startup that produces blue hydrogen, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and ammonia. It produces blue hydrogen by converting natural gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2).
The startup captures CO2 and securely stores it in underground reservoirs. This patented process prevents CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Horisont Energi also uses blue hydrogen to create blue ammonia. It uses the CSS process to capture the CO2 created in ammonia production to make it cleaner.
CO-CEOs Bjørgulf Haukelidsæter Eidesen and Leiv Olav Kallestad are leading this startup.
Bjørgulf has a master’s degree in control engineering (cybernetics) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Its Barents Blue project has been awarded NOK 482 million (€482 million) in government funding from Norway to participate in the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) Hydrogen Program or Hy2Use.
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3. RenewH2 Harnessing Biogenic Methane to Produce Blue Hydrogen
| Founding Year | 2021 |
| Headquarter | Colorado, United States |
| Total Funding Amount | – |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | – |
| Website | https://www.renew-h2.com/ |
The transportation industry, with an estimated 270,000 trucks on dedicated routes covering about 650 miles daily, presents an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption through more sustainable practices. Similarly, the Transition of over 5.9 million commercial buildings in the United States to carbon-zero fuel sources can help safeguard our environment.
RenewH2 is trying to revolutionize these sectors by introducing hydrogen as a low-cost, renewable energy alternative like blue hydrogen for vehicles and buildings, including commercial establishments, hospitals, and new homes.
RenewH2 harnesses biogenic methane (using Wyoming’s largest source) to produce blue hydrogen. The startup generates blue hydrogen from biogenic gas — renewable natural gas produced by anaerobic microbial systems underground — using a steam methane reformer coupled with CO2 capture and sequestration techniques. This approach produces clean, carbon-free blue hydrogen and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions by storing CO2 underground.
The startup also uses renewable energy sources like solar and wind, through water electrolysis, to generate green hydrogen. RenewH2 offers an end-to-end hydrogen solution for transportation, heat and power, and industry feedstock sectors.
RenewH2 streamlines refueling with dynamic storage systems featuring integrated liquid pumps to lower dispensing and customer costs alongside a fuel cell solution to reduce operational expenses and enhance transportation efficiency.
CEO David T. Martineau is leading the RenewH2 team and startup to success with his industrial experience of founding, leading, and operating companies in oil & gas, environmental, transportation, and financial services.
Hyzon Motors Inc. and RenewH2 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in April 2021 to demand and supply liquid hydrogen.
4. Utility Global Introduced Its eXEROTM To Bridge the Energy Gap
| Founding Year | 2018 |
| Headquarter | Texas, United States |
| Total Funding Amount | $33 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Series B/$25 Million |
| Website | https://www.utilityglobal.com/ |
Despite its environmental benefits, green hydrogen production faces economic challenges due to the high costs associated with electrolyzers, maintenance, and renewable energy sources. These factors hinder the widespread adoption of green hydrogen despite its potential for renewable energy and decarbonization.
Utility Global introduces a promising solution with its eXERO technology platform. This platform uses a new solid oxide electrochemical reactor design to produce blue hydrogen from natural gas via steam methane reforming with 30% lower costs and emissions by capturing and storing CO2.
The eXEROTM combines the best electrochemical and chemical processes to produce high-purity products like hydrogen without costly purification steps and with lower capital and operating costs. It removes the need for an external electrical source by using the natural voltage difference between different gas compositions to drive the reaction.
Utility Global is moving forward under the leadership of CEO Claus Nussgruber, who has experience in presidential and management roles. He is a chemical engineer from the University of the Witwatersrand and holds an MBA from Heriot-Watt University.
Utility Global raised its last funding of $25M from a Series B round led by Ara Partners in Aug 2022.
5. Levidian’s LOOP Harnessing Methane for Hydrogen and Graphene
| Founding Year | 2012 |
| Headquarter | Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
| Total Funding Amount | £12 Million |
| Last Funding Round/Amount | Corporate Round/£12 Million |
| Website | https://www.levidian.com/ |
Methane, responsible for a quarter of global warming, presents a significant environmental challenge due to its potent greenhouse effect. Traditional methods for handling methane, such as SMR, Pyrolysis, and Microwave Plasma, offer solutions but come with their limitations of harmful by-products, temperatures, and pressure requirements.
Levidian addresses these challenges with its patented decarbonization device, LOOP, which can produce graphene and hydrogen directly from any methane source globally.
This technology cracks methane molecules into carbon (captured as graphene) and hydrogen gas, offering both pure hydrogen and a hydrogen-methane blend for various applications.
LOOP’s technology provides a sustainable way to reduce CO2 emissions by decarbonizing natural gas for heat sources and power generation. It also leverages waste gas from anaerobic digestion, waste management, or flaring sites as input, enhancing local methane utilization.
By producing and separating hydrogen onsite, Levidian enables efficient use and storage of hydrogen while offering graphene for use or resale.
The startup is led by CEO John Hartley and Chairman Jamie Edmiston. Hartley is a business leader in energy and decarbonization. He studied climate change and environmental economics at the University of Cambridge.
Levidian’s last funding of £12 million was raised from a corporate round led by Baker Hughes in October 2022.
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Author: Naveen Kumar, Market Research
