Why LOHC
Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) systems offer a very attractive way to store and transport hydrogen, a technical feature that is highly desirable to link variable energy production from renewables with the vision of a sustainable, CO2-free, hydrogen-based energy system. LOHCs can be charged and discharged with considerable amounts of hydrogen in cyclic, catalytic hydrogenation and dehydrogenation processes. As their chemical properties are very similar to diesel, today’s infrastructure for liquid fuels can be used for their handling thus greatly facilitating the step-wise transition from today’s fossil system to a CO2 emission free energy supply for both, stationary and mobile applications.
It’s a matter of energy density vs risk
- Hydrogen gas is not energy dense requiring compression or transformation in order to be able to transport to an end user.
| Method | Hydrogen Density | Transport Conditions |
| Compressed H2 | 10 – 20 kgs H2\cubic metre | Ambient temp. Pressure up to 700 bar, special tankers |
| LOHC | 57kgs H2 \LOHC tonne or 57 kgs H2\cubic metre | Ambient temp and pressure. Non flammable, non toxic. Can use existing diesel infrastructure |
| Ammonia | 178 kgs H2 \ammonia tonne
Or 105 Kgs H2 \cubic metre |
Transport in liquid form <33 deg C. UN Class 2 Toxic Gas Classification. Regulations cover tanker construction, maintenance and loading\unloading safety procedures. Ammonia has the highest H2 density C 17 8% by weight but is highly toxic to humans and the environment. Liquid H2 has 25% higher density than LOHC but need to cool H2 below -253 C. |
| Liquified Hydrogen | 71kgs H2\cubic metre | Transport in liquid form <253 deg C. Special containers and support equipment. Some transport losses |
Why Hynertech LOHC
Hynertech’s LOHC and the catalyst used in the hydrogenation\de hydrogenation cycles has been specifically designed to maximize dehydrogenation rates while lowering the heat produced\required for the absorption\desorption of hydrogen.
- Recyclable LOHC : No degradation
- Benign Carrier: Non Toxic, non flammable liquid. Able to use current diesel infrastructure
- Collector Unit Produces Heat. No reagent consumption
- Release Unit requires Heat. No reagent consumption
- 2 to 3 times more H2 per M3 than highly compressed H2
- Low Opex and Capex with a net heat requirement of 2 kwhr\H2kg
Hynertech’s LOHC is safe:
- Not considered a dangerous good with an ignition point above 120 deg C
- Does not contain any benzene or toluene
Hynertech’s LOHC is highly scalable with individual reactors starting at 3 tonnes per day with a 15 tonnes per day reactor available in 2025. Reactors are the building blocks of capacity operating in parallel at multi-reactor scale plants.
Hynertech’s LOHC has been shown to operate across 100 repeated hydrogenation cycles confirming a +95% effective H2 carrying capacity with no degradation in performance.