Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies, a German hydrogen energy startup founded in 2013, develops liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) technologies to store and transport hydrogen gas without the need for cryogenics or high pressure.
Challenges: hydrogen storage
In the quest for net zero emissions, hydrogen is increasingly being recognized as a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuels. This clean energy carrier offers several advantages, including the potential for production from renewable resources, zero-emission combustion, and high energy density.
As we move toward a cleaner energy future, hydrogen’s versatility and sustainability make it an increasingly attractive option. Applications for this highly portable energy source range from generating electricity through fuel cells to producing heat through combustion, all while minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. Its flexibility and eco-friendly nature position hydrogen as a key player in the evolving energy landscape.
Traditionally, the world has relied heavily on steam methane reforming (SMR) to produce over 60 million tons of hydrogen annually. However, this method comes with a significant environmental cost. It’s an energy-intensive process that contributes approximately 2% to global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, releasing between 5 and 9 tons of CO₂ for every ton of hydrogen it generates.
There are cleaner paths to producing hydrogen, such as water electrolysis and methane pyrolysis.
After production, transporting hydrogen to end users is essential. However, this process is challenging due to hydrogen’s unique chemical and physical properties. Safety concerns arise from hydrogen’s potential to cause material embrittlement and its propensity to escape from containment. Additionally, hydrogen’s wide flammability range and low ignition energy present significant risks. These factors pose substantial challenges to the widespread and safe adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier.
Several solutions have been developed for hydrogen transportation, each with its own set of limitations:
- High-pressure/compressed hydrogen
This method utilizes bulk storage vehicles like tube trailers. However, it faces constraints in transport volume and experiences hydrogen losses, reducing efficiency over long distances. Compressed hydrogen storage and transportation can consume up to 20% of the fuel’s energy content.
- Liquid cryogenic hydrogen
This approach is favored for high-volume transport, especially in the absence of pipelines. The process involves cooling hydrogen to below 20K through liquefaction and transporting it in liquid tankers with onboard cooling systems. While effective for large volumes, this method is energy-intensive, potentially using up to 40% of the hydrogen’s energy content.
- Adsorption materials
Metal hydrides, which are formed by the chemical reaction of metals and hydrogen gas, provide a highly compact method of storing hydrogen. They are denser than liquid hydrogen and can be stored at normal temperatures and pressures. However, metal hydrides have a relatively low hydrogen storage capacity, ranging from 1-5% by weight. Furthermore, metal hydrides are unsuitable for flow-based transportation methods like pipelines. Metal hydrides are primarily used in stationary applications due to their high energy demand and slow kinetics associated with hydrogen absorption and release.
- Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs)
LOHCs are an innovative solution for hydrogen storage and transport. This technology involves hydrogenating an unsaturated organic compound, such as toluene, to form a hydrogen-rich liquid, like methylcyclohexane, which can be stored and transported under ambient conditions without the need for high pressures or low temperatures. When hydrogen is needed, methylcyclohexane undergoes dehydrogenation, releasing hydrogen for use. This process is facilitated by catalysts and can be integrated into existing fuel infrastructure, making LOHCs a practical and cost-effective alternative to traditional hydrogen storage methods.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Technology
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies uses benzyl toluene as LOHCs. Benzyl toluene is considered safe for handling as it is non-explosive and has a high flash point of around 112.5 ºC. Conventional liquid fuel infrastructure can store and transport it, making it a practical choice for large-scale hydrogen logistics.
Benzyl toluene theoretically stores hydrogen with a gravimetric density of approximately 6.2 wt%. This means that 6.2% of the weight of the fully hydrogenated benzyl toluene (perhydro-benzyl toluene) is hydrogen. The theoretical volumetric hydrogen storage density of benzyl toluene is about 54 kg of hydrogen per cubic meter (kg H₂/m³) when fully hydrogenated. This high density makes it competitive with other LOHC systems, such as toluene/methylcyclohexane.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies develops innovative chemical processes that improve benzyl toluene’s hydrogen storage capacity and hydrogen release rate.
How Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies dehydrogenizes LOHC
The diagram below depicts the LOHC dehydrogenation system developed by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.
The LOHC dehydrogenation system includes a dehydrogenation reactor and a reforming reactor. Using a pure dehydrogenation reactor alone, 1 mol of LOHC theoretically releases 6 mol hydrogen gas. Adding a steam reforming reactor allows for the release of an additional 4 mol of hydrogen gas. This enhances the overall increased hydrogen release rate.
The dehydrogenation of perhydro-benzyl toluene (H12-LOHC) is a strongly endothermic reaction. Therefore, effective heat input into the reactor and effective heat integration with other steps are the keys to an overall efficient energy process.
As shown in the diagram above, liquid H12-LOHC from a storage tank is preheated by a heat exchanger and a heater. H12-LOHC completely evaporates and enters tube reactors distributed within the dehydrogenation reactor. Heat transfer fluid constantly supplies heat to the tube reactors. The flow direction of a heat transfer fluid is opposite to that of a gaseous H12-LOHC fluid.
The endothermic dehydrogenation reaction of H12-LOHC takes place within tube reactors at a temperature between 240 and 350 ºC and a pressure between 1 and 6 bar. The tube reactors have fixed catalyst beds. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises catalytically active metal, such as nickel, loaded on porous supportive material, such as aluminum oxide. On the surface of the catalytic metal, H12-LOHC is converted into benzyl toluene (denoted as H0-LOHC) and hydrogen gas is released.
Accordingly, 1 mol of LOHC produces 6 mol of hydrogen gas in the dehydrogenation reactor.
The gaseous product mixture output from the dehydrogenation reactor mainly contains hydrogen gas and H0-LOHC. The hot mixture is sent to the heat exchanger, which transfers heat to preheat the fresh H12-LOHC feed. This heat recycling improves the energy efficiency of the system. The product mixture is cooled to a temperature that H0-LOHC condenses. After condensation, hydrogen gas can be separated easily and reliably with high purity from the liquid H0-LOHC in a gas-liquid separator.
The liquid H0-LOHC is further processed in a reforming reactor in the presence of superheated steam.
As shown in the diagram above, liquid H0-LOHC is completely evaporated by a heat exchanger and a heater. The gaseous H0-LOHC enters tube reactors distributed within the reforming reactor. The tube reactors also receive steam as a feed. The heat transfer fluid constantly supplies heat to the reforming tube reactors.
Within the reforming tube reactors, the gaseous mixture of H0-LOHC and steam comes into contact with the reforming catalyst. The reforming catalyst comprises catalytically active metal, such as iron, porous metal oxide support (such as aluminum gallium oxide), and promoters (alkali salts). The reforming of H0-LOHC takes place on the metal catalyst at a temperature between 240 and 350 ºC and a pressure between 1 and 6 bar.
It is important that the oxygen of the reforming catalyst is used to reform H0-LOHC and the oxygen of the steam is used to reform the reforming catalyst with the release of hydrogen gas.
Accordingly, using a steam reforming reactor, 1 mol of LOHC produces an additional 4 mol of hydrogen gas. Therefore, the combination of dehydrogenation and reforming enhances LOHC’s hydrogen storage and release rates.
The steam reforming reactor produces a mixture of hydrogen gas, gaseous Oxo-LOHC, and steam. The hot mixture is sent to the heat exchanger, which transfers heat to preheat the fresh H0-LOHC feed. The mixture is cooled to a temperature that gaseous Oxo-LOHC and steam condense. After condensation, the hydrogen gas can be easily separated from the liquids in a gas-liquid separator.
Oxo-LOHC oil and water can be easily separated in a liquid-liquid separator. Oxo-LOHC is stored and transported to a hydrogenation reactor in a location where hydrogen gas is needed to be stored in LOHC.
How Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies hydrogenizes LOHC
The diagram below depicts the LOHC hydrogenation system developed by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies.
Oxo-LOHC liquid is completely evaporated by a heat exchanger and a heater. Gaseous Oxo-LOHC enters tube reactors distributed within the hydrogenation reactor. Tube reactors also receive hydrogen gas. The gaseous mixture of Oxo-LOHC and hydrogen comes into contact with the hydrogenation catalyst, which has a similar composition to the dehydrogenation catalyst. The hydrogenation reaction is exothermic. A heat transfer fluid constantly removes the released heat within the tube reactors.
Accordingly, 1 mol of LOHC can store 10 mol of hydrogen gas.
The hydrogenation reactor’s product mixture output includes unreacted hydrogen gas, steam, gaseous H12-LOHC, and small amounts of gaseous Oxo-LOHC. The hot mixture is sent to a heat exchanger, which transfers heat to preheat the fresh Oxo-LOHC feed. The mixture is cooled to a temperature that gaseous H12-LOHC and steam condense. After condensation, hydrogen gas can be easily separated from the liquids in a gas-liquid separator.
H12-LOHC oil and water can be easily separated in a liquid-liquid separator. H12-LOHC is stored and transported to a dehydrogenation reactor in a location where hydrogen gas is released from LOHC.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Patent
- WO2024119281A1 System and method for hydrogen storage and release
- DE102021201368A1 Method and system for providing compressed hydrogen gas released from a carrier material
- US10322391 Reactor device for the release of a gas from a starting material
- US10350566 Reactor apparatus for dehydrogenating a carrier medium
- US20190292048A1 Method for providing hydrogen gas, dehydrogenation reactor and transport container
- WO2020035307A1 Process and device for providing hydrogen gas
- WO2020120261A1 Method and installation for releasing gas from a liquid medium
- WO2022167337A1 Method and system for releasing a chemically bound component from a carrier material
- WO2022223444A1 Process and system for providing hydrogen gas
- WO2022223447A1 Device and method for the catalytic release of a gas from a carrier material
- WO2023052216A1 Method and apparatus for releasing chemically bound hydrogen from a carrier material
- WO2024074613A1 Method and device for providing and or storing hydrogen gas
- WO2024078958A1 Catalyst system and method for catalytically dehydrating a hydrogen carrier material, reactor arrangement
- WO2024078959A1 Method and system for releasing hydrogen gas from an at least partially loaded carrier material
- DE102022205287A1 Method and reactor arrangement for the multi-stage hydrogenation of a hydrogen carrier medium
- US11530780 Method for storing hydrogen gas, hydrogenation reactor and transport container
- WO2023227711A1 Process and reactor assembly for the hydrogenation of a carrier medium for hydrogen
- WO2024078960A1 Method for operating a reactor, which comprises a catalyst material
- WO2023227710A1 Hydrogenation process and dehydrogenation process for a carrier medium for hydrogen
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Technology Applications
- Industrial hydrogen supply
Hydrogenious LOHC technology provides a reliable and efficient solution for storing and transporting hydrogen for industrial applications. The technology allows for the storage of large volumes of hydrogen, which can be transported over long distances and released on-site as needed.
- Stationary energy storage
Hydrogenious LOHC technology facilitates the integration of renewable energy sources by storing excess renewable energy as hydrogen. This stored hydrogen can then be transported and used when and where it is needed, helping to balance supply and demand in the energy grid.
- Mobility and transportation
The LOHC technology is used to supply hydrogen refueling stations, enabling the decarbonization of the mobility sector. Hydrogen is bound to the LOHC at central production sites and transported to refueling stations, where it is released for use in fuel cell vehicles.
Hydrogenious LOHC Maritime, a joint venture with the Østensjø Group, is developing emission-free onboard propulsion systems using LOHC technology. This includes projects like HyNjord and Ship-aH2oy, which aim to demonstrate LOHC-based powertrains for ships.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Products
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is involved in several significant projects that leverage their Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) technology for hydrogen storage and transportation.
- Dormagen plant
Description: Hydrogenious is constructing the world’s largest LOHC plant in Dormagen, Germany.
Capacity: The plant is designed to handle large volumes of hydrogen, with commissioning scheduled for 2023.
Objective: To set new standards in hydrogen storage capacity and efficiency.
- Green hydrogen@Blue Danube
Description: This project focuses on the use of LOHC technology to transport green hydrogen to industrial offtakers in the Danube region.
Scope: A ReleasePLANT will be constructed near the Danube to supply and release approximately 1,000 – 2,000 tons of green hydrogen per year.
Significance: It is part of the Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) and aims to establish an early hub for green hydrogen supply in Bavaria.
- ACME Group collaboration
Description: Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies has signed an MoU with ACME Group to explore the development of large-scale hydrogen supply chains from Oman to Europe.
Objective: To transport green hydrogen produced by ACME in Oman using LOHC technology to supply hubs in Europe, thereby supporting the decarbonization of industrial sectors.
- CWP global feasibility study
Description: A feasibility study in collaboration with CWP Global to explore a 500 tons per day hydrogen transport chain from Morocco to Europe.
Project Base: The 15 GW AMUN project near Tan Tan, Morocco, focusing on producing ammonia from green hydrogen and exploring LOHC transport as an alternative.
Goal: To identify the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for deploying green hydrogen and its derivatives to support Net Zero by 2050 goals.
- JERA investment and collaboration
Description: JERA Co., Inc. has invested approximately €15 million in Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies to support the development of LOHC plants in Europe, North America, and Asia.
Objective: To acquire knowledge of LOHC technology and contribute to establishing global hydrogen supply chains.
- SmartQuart project
Description: A project in Germany aimed at developing a sustainable hydrogen infrastructure using LOHC technology for industrial and residential applications.
Objective: To demonstrate the practical applications of LOHC technology in creating a hydrogen economy.
- Hy2Infra Wave
Description: Part of the IPCEI “Hy2Infra” wave, which aims to establish regional infrastructure clusters for renewable hydrogen supply in Europe.
Scope: Hydrogenious is involved in 33 projects within this wave, focusing on building the initial infrastructure for hydrogen supply chains.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Funding
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies has raised a total of €67M in funding over 5 rounds:
- a Series A round
- three Venture-Series Unknown rounds
- a Grant round
Their latest funding was raised on Jul 18, 2024 from a Grant round.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Investor
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies is funded by 11 investors:
- AP Ventures
- Vopak
- Temasek Holdings
- Winkelmann Group
- JERA Americas
- Chevron Technology Ventures
- Mitsubishi Corporation
- Pavilion Capital
- Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
- Anglo American Platinum
- Covestro
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and AP Ventures are the most recent investors.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies Founder
Daniel Teichmann is Founder.
Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies CEO
Daniel Teichmann is CEO.