PCC H2 Granted Patent on Ethanol to H2 Conversion

(PCC Hydrogen/PR Newswire) PCC Hydrogen (“PCC H2”) is pleased to announce the issuance of its patented hydrogen production technology (US Patent 11,649,549) for coupling an electrolyzer system with a catalytic adiabatic reactor to convert ethanol into hydrogen.

By leveraging ethanol’s biogenic characteristics and capturing the pure CO₂ byproduct of the PCC H2 hydrogen production process, the Company can produce a negative carbon index hydrogen product. Hydrogen generated from the PCC H2 process can be used in myriad applications ranging from hydrogen combustion engines to fuel cells (fuel cell powered loaders, trucks, other rolling stock, and for fuel cells in non-grid connected BEV charging stations). Furthermore, PCC H2 is exploring the use of its hydrogen to lower the emissions profile of any heating/calcining process.

“The issuance of this patent solidifies PCC Hydrogen’s competitive advantage in the low-cost production of net-negative CO₂ hydrogen from ethanol. By making ethanol derived hydrogen ubiquitously available near the point of need, PCC Hydrogen will become a key contributor to the wide adoption of hydrogen as a clean fuel,” said PCC Hydrogen CEO Tim Fogarty.

Company CTO, Dr. Jeffrey Harrison, also pointed out, “The cost of transporting hydrogen gas or liquified hydrogen is very expensive, but for ethanol, the transport, delivery, handling and storage are largely compatible with existing infrastructure and relatively inexpensive. With our conversion technology, ethanol can be a valuable source of hydrogen for distributed generation in locations proximal to the point of use.” Dr. Harrison added that “while the immediate focus is on ethanol as a feedstock, the technology is equally applicable to renewable sources of natural gas from landfills and anaerobic digesters. The ability to easily capture the pure carbon dioxide byproduct of the production process opens the door to producing blue hydrogen from conventional natural gas while emitting no greenhouse gases.”

PCC Hydrogen is working to commercialize its hydrogen production process with plans underway for a pilot facility in Indiana.

PCC Hydrogen has developed a groundbreaking method to produce either low or negative carbon index hydrogen from ethanol and other renewable fuels in a distributed and cost-effective way. PCC Hydrogen’s patent-pending process also allows for easy capture of its pure CO₂ byproduct gas, enabling production of negative carbon index hydrogen.

Excerpt from PCC Hydrogen/Business Wire: PCC Hydrogen Inc (“PCC H2”), a low carbon/negative carbon hydrogen production company based in Louisville, KY, is pleased to announce plans to construct a pilot hydrogen production plant in Cloverdale, IN near the US 231 and Interstate 70 interchange.

PCC H2’s plant will showcase the efficient conversion of logistically friendly ethanol into high purity, negative carbon index green hydrogen using a patented reforming process coupled with the capture of the processes pure CO₂ byproduct. By providing a readily available, negative carbon index hydrogen close to the point of need, the Company is enabling the decarbonization of the economy in a cost effective and commercially viable way.

The Company has engaged Plant Process Group (PPG), a leading Houston based design, engineering, fabrication, construction, and commissioning services company to support the project with plans to have the pilot plant operational by first quarter 2024. PPG has decades of experience designing and building facilities for the refining industry, chemicals manufacturers, and biofuels producers.

PCC H2 is also working closely with the Town of Cloverdale and Putnam County to support the establishment of the first negative carbon index hydrogen production facility of its kind in the world. The production facility expects to hire local personnel at competitive wages and benefits.

Tim Fogarty, PCC H2 CEO, stated “We are excited to work with the Town of Cloverdale and Putnam County to showcase our groundbreaking technology. The Cloverdale location is ideal for the construction and operation of our first production facility given existing local hydrogen demand and the potential for broad adoption of low cost, negative carbon index hydrogen to help decarbonize the local economy in a financially rational way.”

Hydrogen generated from the PCC H2 process can be used in myriad applications ranging from hydrogen combustion engines to fuel cells (fuel cell powered loaders, trucks, other rolling stock, and for fuel cells in non-grid connected BEV charging stations). Furthermore, PCC H2 is exploring the use of its hydrogen to lower the emissions profile of any heating/calcining process. Finally, the Company is leveraging the logistically friendly nature of ethanol to produce hydrogen at smaller, distributed facilities closer to the point of use, diminishing the adverse added expense of transporting liquid hydrogen over long distances.

Cloverdale Town Manager, Jason Hartman, added “Cloverdale is extremely pleased to support the construction of the first of its kind negative carbon index hydrogen production plant that will decarbonize local industry while offering competitively priced jobs to the local community.”

The PCC H2 core reformer at the pilot plant will be mounted on three skids and operate 24/7. The company expects to break ground at the site this Summer.

PCC Hydrogen is developing a groundbreaking method to produce either low or negative carbon index hydrogen from ethanol and other renewable fuels in a distributed and cost-effective way. This innovative patented process also allows for easy capture of its pure CO₂ byproduct gas, enabling production of negative carbon index hydrogen.

Plant Process Group is a privately held group of companies with a long history of providing design, engineering, fabrication, construction, commissioning, startup and operations services to the refining, chemical, oil and gas, biofuels, power generation and related industries.