In mid-November, the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program encouraged FlexiH, a startup focusing on clean ammonia and hydrogen production, to submit full proposal. The pitch number 00070417 for the project “Multi-stage microwave plasma torch pyrolysis of methane (MPPM) for on-site hydrogen production” is expected to strengthen the company’s focus on helping the agricultural industry through onsite ammonia and hydrogen production.

Using electrodeless plasma technology, the company uses atmospheric conditions to produce ammonia and hydrogen. Targeting Guthrie, Oklahoma as its headquarters, the company is certain to make a substantial contribution to the agriculture industry as well as the emerging hydrogen economy. The current commercially available technology for producing ammonia is the Haber Bosch process, which requires high pressure (>160 bar) and consequently requires stringent safety precautions. Training operators for such plants is always difficult. With a strategic collaborator, Green Science Incorporation (GSI), FlexiH aims at building technologies that are carbon neutral and/or negative process, and clean ammonia is the safest hydrogen carrier and a critical component in the industries especially in the agriculture and fertilizer industry. The proposed project will promote and assist the growth of local agriculture industry and hydrogen economy.