As hydrogen continues its emergence as the next frontier of clean energy, Pure Hydrogen (ASX: PH2) has confirmed plans to build a pilot plant in Brisbane that will be capable of manufacturing carbon and graphene products through the use of Turquoise Hydrogen. 

Confirmation of the pilot plant comes after two years of investigative work into Turquoise Hydrogen by PH2 that has proven its value in commercial production of hydrogen and value-add carbon products, including Graphene, from natural gas and biomethane. 

The investigative work has been carried out in collaboration with French tech company Planets which supplied its patented A/C Plasma Torch to convert methane into hydrogen (Turquoise Hydrogen) to produce value-add solid carbon products – the HyPlasma process. 

Continuing the partnership, Pure Hydrogen has signed a binding term sheet with Plenesys to commercialise the HyPlasma process via a pilot plant that will be capable of producing up to 15,000kg per day of carbon product. 

“Turquoise Hydrogen is a cleaner use of natural gas (methane), and Graphene has many emerging applications in electronics and high strength, light-weight materials, which is particularly important in the production of batteries, electronic equipment, fabrication and building materials,” said Pure Hydrogen Managing Director, Scott Brown. 

“Graphene can be absolute game changer in so many products. As an example, Lowering the weight of an EV is equally important as delivering clean energy to power it as less weight equals less fuel and greater range. 

“Our initial programme is focussed on demonstrating and refining the process, before commencing commercial scale operations. It is no doubt there is significant upside for the technology globally.”

Construction of the pilot plant in Brisbane is expected to commence within the next 12 months. In addition to accessing the IP, the term sheet also includes exclusivity of the commercial rights to Hyplasma across Australia, South East Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. 

The HyPlasma process is a form of methane Pyrolysis, which is the thermal decomposition of methane molecules in an oxygen-free reaction chamber. It’s uniqueness comes in the continuous process which consumes 5 times less electricity than an equivalent capacity green hydrogen electrolysis process, consumes no water, and produces no CO or CO2 emissions.

When operated with renewable electricity and bio-methane, Pure Hydrogen’s plasma pyrolysis process can become Carbon-negative.

Pure Hydrogen has already commenced discussions on a lease site for the plant and are expected to pay Plenesys $1 million for the pilot equipment which would be financed out of existing cash reserves.