Hyzon Motors Inc., a major producer of hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicles, announced the signing of a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Transform Materials, a provider of renewable hydrogen via their patented microwave reactor technology.
Hyzon and Transform Materials will jointly evaluate proposals for the development of facilities capable of producing hydrogen with a carbon intensity of zero to one from various sources of methane, with a preference for biogas and renewable natural gas.
These facilities (called hubs) can be created efficiently using Transform Material’s unique technology, even at small scales of 1-5 tons/day, with modular construction that permits capacity to grow as customer demand develops. Transform’s technology, which will be used in these projects, creates hydrogen in the same process as acetylene, resulting in much lower hydrogen cost structures.
“Hyzon believes the key to decarbonizing transport in the near-term requires overcoming the hydrogen infrastructure challenges,” said Parker Meeks, Hyzon’s Chief Strategy Officer. “Our solution is to co-invest in facilities that produce low-cost hydrogen at small volumes, and which can be built in a matter of months. By coordinating these facilities with existing and developing customer interest, we can accelerate the deployment of our zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered vehicles.”
Additionally, Transform’s technique may manufacture carbon solids such as acetylene black or graphene, enabling practical carbon capture while producing products with a significantly negative carbon intensity, especially when biogas is used as a feedstock. Hyzon will assess options to utilize the carbon solids produced by Transform in Hyzon vehicle materials, such as battery and carbon fiber manufacture, hence expanding Hyzon’s circular economy opportunities.
Hyzon and Transform will use the MoU to coordinate hydrogen production with the growing demand generated by Hyzon’s heavy-duty vehicles. Hyzon’s back-to-base vehicle deployments would be positioned and designed to meet existing and projected customer needs, resulting in high utilization. Transform Materials’ clean plasma technology can convert methane to hydrogen and acetylene without emitting CO2. By utilizing this adaptable, commonly available feedstock without releasing CO2, we can produce hydrogen with a carbon intensity of zero to negative for use in Hyzon’s zero-emission vehicles.
“Transform Materials offers a sustainable alternative for utilizing traditional hydrocarbon feedstocks such as natural gas and biogas,” said David Soane, Transform Materials’ founder and CEO. “Transform’s innovative technology avoids combustion entirely by turning these abundant resources into hydrogen, a carbon-free fuel, and into useful building-blocks for important industrial chemicals. Working with Hyzon, we can de-carbonize two major industries at once: the transportation industry with our clean hydrogen, and the chemical manufacturing industry with our clean acetylene.”
The businesses intend to explore locations for facilities incorporating the Transform technology in the United States, Canada, Europe, and maybe China under the terms of the MoU, with initial evaluations set to begin early this year. Transform Materials will construct, own, and manage the hubs, with Hyzon retaining the option to invest in the facilities’ equity. Third-party providers will provide feedstock and dispensing.
