Empire Diversified Energy (Empire) and Heartland Water Technology (Heartland) have partnered to develop a state-of-the-art facility to convert food waste into renewable hydrogen and carbon.
The facility will operate as part of the Department of Energy's Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), which seeks to enhance communities in the Appalachian region through hydrogen capture, utilization, and storage.
"The project not only aligns with our vision to redefine waste, it underscores the critical role of renewable hydrogen in shaping a sustainable, circular economy. Hydrogen is more than an energy carrier; it represents a cornerstone for future sustainability goals," said Chris Beaufait, CEO of Heartland.
During the food waste to renewable hydrogen process, food waste is treated in an anaerobic digester to produce biogas and residual solid materials known as digestate.
Then, Heartland will use its proprietary HelioStorm ultra-high temperature ionic gasifier to perform methane pyrolysis using biogas to produce clean hydrogen and sustainable carbon. Heartland also processes the digestate in a similar way to producing an ultra-pure, tar-free synthesis gas, which can be used to generate clean energy.
"By leveraging this hub as a pivotal platform for collaboration, research, and development, we aim to demonstrate how strategic investments in decentralized hydrogen infrastructure and technology can yield significant environmental and economic benefits," said Bernard Brown, Empire COO.
