Supercritical Solutions, HAMR Energy receive funding for renewable methanol plant project
Jericho Energy Ventures announced that its portfolio company, Supercritical Solutions and HAMR Energy have been awarded nearly AUD $1-MM in funding from the Australia-UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership.
The project brings together game-changing innovation in electrolysis from the UK and a burgeoning market opportunity for renewable methanol in Australia.
The first phase will deliver a comprehensive techno-economic feasibility study evaluating the integration of high-pressure hydrogen from Supercritical's electrolyzers into HAMR's hybrid methanol plant design. The project will include empirical testing of Supercritical's advanced catalysts and a full lifecycle analysis evaluating the environmental impact of the electrolyzers' novel membrane-less design. The pioneering consortium will de-risk the concept for progression to pilot stage, with deployment of Supercritical's technology in Australia as part of a renewable methanol production facility from 2026.
With potential to reduce the cost of renewable methanol by up to 20% relative to incumbent electrolysis technologies, Supercritical's technology offers a world-class system efficiency of 42 kWh/kgH2 (95% HHV) whilst delivering hydrogen over 200 bar. The delivery significantly simplifies compression and storage infrastructure for methanol facilities offering a transformative advantage in capital and operational expenditures.
Matt Bird, CEO & Co-founder of Supercritical, commented: "At Supercritical, we are not just engineering electrolyzers; we are crafting the keystones for the next generation of clean energy infrastructure. Our collaboration with HAMR Energy signifies a leap towards making zero-emission renewable fuels a mainstream reality. This venture underpins our commitment to innovation and our belief that the right technology can indeed turn the tide on global energy challenges."
Methanol is used as a feedstock for products from plastics to fuels and to achieve net zero, these markets must trend to renewable methanol. According to the International Energy Agency, the methanol industry is the third largest user of hydrogen today.
The vast potential of renewable methanol as a substitute for heavy fuel oil is recognized through the growing commitment within the shipping industry, led by stakeholders like Maersk and supported by the International Maritime Organization's net-zero ambitions to reduce global GHG emissions.
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