Char, Hitachi Zosen Inova partner for California Green Hydrogen Project
HZI is looking for ways to expand its net negative carbon footprint and draw value from the waste processed at its renewable gas facilities.
Char Technologies Ltd (a cleantech development and services company) will start a test project with Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) (a cleantech company operating in energy from waste and renewable gas) to develop high-temperature pyrolysis to green hydrogen system at the existing San Luis Obispo (SLO) anaerobic digestion facility in California.
Under the definitive agreement with HZI’s SLO operating company, Char’s high-temperature pyrolysis system will process 18,000 tonnes/year of solid anaerobic digestate into 1,320 tonnes/year of green hydrogen, and 2,800 tonnes/year of biocarbon.
The project will be delivered under a BOOT (build-own-operate-transfer) model, where Char will be the initial project owner, with HZI managing system operations. While Char owns the assets, Char will receive revenues directly for the project outputs (green hydrogen and biocarbon). Upon executing the transfer, HZI’s subsidiary will purchase the project for a one-time payment. Ongoing project output revenues will be dispersed based on a predefined agreement.
Andrew White, CEO of Char, said, “The HZI SLO facility currently produces green electricity from green bin wastes, and adding our system allows for the additional production of green hydrogen into the California market.”
Heath Jones, HZI’s MD for North America, said, “Adding Char’s innovative technology to create green hydrogen and biochar at HZI’s Anerobic Digestion plant in San Luis Obispo continues to showcase both HZI and Char’s commitment to building a carbon-free economy.”
