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Presentation of one of our clients in the field of renewable energy : HAFFNER ENERGY – the production of green hydrogen by pyrogasification

Today, 95% of hydrogen is produced from hydrocarbons (oil, natural gas and coal). This is the most practical solution in the normal energy distribution structure. However, this process emits CO2, a greenhouse gas.

While hydrogen in itself does not pollute, obtaining hydrogen is not simple, as it is not available in its natural state.
(IFP energies nouvelles data: “All about hydrogen”.)

Part des Energies Renouvelables par secteur

HAFFNER ENERGY, a start-up committed to the energy transition, has decided to take on this challenge using the pyrolysis of biomass. The patented HYNOCA® process is based on the thermolysis of biomass.
This renewable and competitive hydrogen production solution reuses agro-forestry waste, sourced locally, to greatly limit the environmental impact.

The HYNOCA®️ process is based on several steps  :

  • High temperature thermolysis of biomass → thermolysis gas.
  • High temperature gas cracking → obtaining a syngas low in N2 and rich in H2 and CO (Hypergaz®).
  • Refining → hydrogen purification 

The starting phase of thermolysis uses fossil fuels. But these are quickly replaced by the products of the reaction. Thus hypergas®, which has a high PCI, is used to maintain thermolysis. As for the by-products (biochar, CO, CO2, etc.), they can be recovered and used :

  • in agriculture, locally as fertilizer (ex: biochar), 
  • for heat production (e.g.: post-purification Hypergaz® residue rich in CO and CO2)
  • or in other industries.

The choice of‘HAFFNER ENERGY was hydrogen production because it is an energy carrier that when used, for example in a fuel cell, produces only water. The goal is that, from production to use, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are zero or low. This hydrogen is made from biomass, which is a renewable resource, and each product or by-product can be used locally, so we talk about green hydrogen. This provides an ecological solution at a lower cost.

The contribution of Chemlys expertise and Micro GC Fusion® for HAFFNER ENERGY

Within the Engineering Department of HAFFNER ENERGY, the Micro GC Fusion® makes it possible to monitor the quality of the gas obtained from different types of biomass. The objective is to be able to analyze the variation in composition of Hypergas® depending on the inputs. Therefore, compositional analysis is required at all stages, especially after cracking and purification.

Chemlys brought its expertise in sampling and gas analysis during the implementation of the Micro GC Fusion® at the different sampling points. Indeed, we accompany your projects on the definition of the analyzer but also on the sampling and the transfer of the gas, key stages of the success for the analysis.

Moreover, Chemlys brings its technical support following the start-up through various supports (telephone, application notes, tutorials, e-learning trainings, …) to help the development of gas analysis applications in the fields of energy transition such as biomass pyrolysis, pyrogasification but also many others.

In the future…

HAFFNER ENERGY  is investing to identify, with the help of Micro GC Fusion®, the groups of biomass (e.g. forestry or agronomy residues) that can be treated in the same way and thus optimize the process HYNOCA®.

Hydrogen is an energy of the future that must now free itself from fossil fuels that are polluting and non-renewable.
The challenge today is to develop clean, renewable and competitive production solutions to gradually replace fossil fuels.

HAFFNER ENERGY, with HYNOCA®, is one of the answers to the energy transition and holds great promise for the future, especially for hydrogen mobility.
HAFFNER ENERGY will soon install its first industrial HYNOCA® facility for R-GDS in Strasbourg, a project to watch!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us :

Contact:
CHEMLYS :  contact@chemlys.com
HAFFNER ENERGY : contact@haffner-energy.com

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