Hydrogen is a future energy fuel that is carbon free and essential to help reach state and federal emissions reduction goals. Due to high gravimetric and volumetric density, Hydrogen fuel is applicable to all modes of transportation (i.e., land, air and sea).

Unfortunately, technologies to produce clean hydrogen still rely on conventional steam methane reforming (SMR) with carbon capture and storage (CCS) and electrolysis. SMR with CCS is complex and capital intensive, while electrolysis requires extensive energy. Recent technologies using plasma technologies are emerging to tackles these issues, however, further research and development is still needed to reduce their energy consumption while maintaining their efficiency to be more economically attractive.

With its strategic partner, Green Science Inc., FlexiH focuses on advancing the technology in a containerized system, offering an energy requirement of less than 25 kWh/kg of hydrogen at 1,000 kg/day capacity, offering a production cost of less than $5.5/kg without production tax credit (PTC). Microwave plasma generates torch flames that are nearly 50 times larger than typical arc plasma technologies, resulting in higher throughput and lower energy costs (i.e., 80% less energy). As the plasma system is electrodeless, the process offers reliable operation without the necessity to replace the electrodes after certain hours of operation.

The core component, the microwave plasma system, has been used commercially to produce 3 MW electricity (including hydrogen) from local wood biomass in the city of Tae Baek, South Korea.

With a containerized system, the solutions will offer numerous benefits including easy access to the end users, diminishing issues related to transportation and storage, two major hurdles in the current emerging hydrogen economy. The technology also offers carbon negative emission when coupled with renewable natural gas (aka syngas).