Mark Hanna Founder and CEO of Natural hydrogen explorer H2EX and Mark Rheinlander, Founder and CEO of Hydrilyte® hydrogen purification, storage and transport producer Carbon280, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Australian Natural Hydrogen Conference in picturesque Hahndorf, South Australia. This follows a demonstration of Hydrilyte® separation of hydrogen from natural hydrogen mixed gases, performed at Carbon280’s Kwinana research facility, and presentation of the results at the conference.
Under the terms of the MOU the companies will evaluate the use of Hydrilyte® to separate hydrogen from H2EX’s planned natural hydrogen mixed gas stream, which includes helium, and safely transport the hydrogen to nearby potential customers, such as the Whyalla town and steelworks.
Mr Hanna said “The natural hydrogen and helium industry is at the cusp of a breakthrough with ongoing exploration including drilling in Australia. As H2EX and other producers transition from exploration to production, our focus will quickly shift to the separation and transport to various customers. Hydrilyte® offers future natural hydrogen and helium producers a process for safe hydrogen capture, storage and transport under ambient conditions”.
With natural hydrogen developers aiming to produce hydrogen for US$1-2 /kgH2 Mr Rheinlander said “Carbon280 is aiming to add no more than US$1/kgH2 captured, stored and transported at industrial scale. This will position natural hydrogen to start competing with natural gas on a per GJ basis. The combination of natural hydrogen and Hydrilyte® can change the game for hydrogen use as a chemical, high-grade heat source and as an energy carrier.”