BA2C Zero Emission Molecules Project Development

I am very proud to announce a paper in Nature, in which Bert Weckhuysen and myself examine the viability of a completely fossil-free future refinery. The paper appears on the cover of Nature of May 9, 2024, and is accompanied by an editorial. Present refineries convert crude oil to transportation fuels and various chemicals as well as raw materials, such as the starting materials (monomers) for polymers, such as coatings and plastics. Both the processing of the fossil fuels as well in their eventual burning in internal combustion engines leads to CO2-emissions. We examine a refinery concept in which the transportation fuels of the future are made from CO2, whereas the chemicals and monomers are made from biomass and plastic waste. We conclude such a refinery is technically feasible, but will require tremendous amounts of green energy to produce the hydrogen required in the conversion processes. Depending on the efficiency and overall integration of all the conversion processes for biomass and plastic waste, the refinery could become carbon-neutral. A lot of science and technology will be required to build the new refineries, and significant investments will need to be made consistently over the next 25+ years. Building the wind turbines and solar panels to generate the required electricity will place a heavy burden on critical raw materials. In order to support these transitions, we will need to educate a new generation of chemists, who can combine deep knowledge of chemistry and technology with a skill set that will allow them to operate in a trans-disciplinary environment. Links: Nature cover: https://lnkd.in/gij6T4eU Nature paper: https://lnkd.in/gSUKexTi Nature editorial: https://lnkd.in/g5qj7jjJ Press release Utrecht University: https://lnkd.in/gGzAyQf4

Yesterday the first industrial size electrolyser arrived in our plant in Namibia. It is the first large scale electrolyser in the southern hemisphere of Africa. Now we can start to put the 2 * 6 MWh stacks into operations. We will keep you posted…..

Nam-H2 Fund Managers and HyIron Sign Development Funding Agreement for Africa’s First-Ever Green Iron Plant in Namibia Please find endlosed the reference press release

Yesterday I presented at Hydrogen Tech World conference in Essen. Some of my messages: - Value is created downstream green hydrogen and not with hydrogen itself; - Therefore, try focus on intermediary or end-products like MeOH/DME, SAF, DRI/green steel, iron fuel, fertilizer or electricity in case RE isn't available during longer periods. Additional advantage of these products is that these are easier and cheaper to transport than H2 or H2-carrier (electricity is exception, it should be used locally); - If no biogenic-C or iron ore (or phosphate, sulphate etc.) is available to produce the added value products, try to use green H2 produced in plants that already exist nearby (like an existing refinery, a cement plant or an ammonia plant - replacing grey fuels or feedstock with green H2), or... - Produce products with added value using H2 and air like ammonia nitrates (preferably to be used locally in the agricultural sector to create even more value locally) or.... - When DAC is commercially available think of MeOH or SAF; - H2 export is obviously possible (especially when it is difficult to produce the products with more value locally due to lack of biogenic-C or iron-ore). But... 1) You need to produce H2 (carrier) in massive amounts and only when conditions are great (sufficient good quality low cost RE available). To be able to compete you need economy of scale, and....; 2) Only do this when it isn't possible to produce downstream added value products (for instance due to lack of biogenic-C or iron-ore). In regions where you can produce the added value products (like in Latin America) business case wise it is always more interesting to produce MeOH, SAF, DRI/Green Steel/iron fuel, fertilizer etc. And be aware, export H2 or H2 carriers in due time will be characterized by a race to the bottom. Reason: large offtakers such as EU refineries and steel plants -in due time- will only buy from suppliers of green H2 that can supply at lowest cost and not from the more expensive projects that produce under conditions that are not optimal. Finally, my most important messsage: - invest in new technologies (not only for H2 but definitely also for the downstream processes); - dare to embrace these new technologies (like SOEC or AEM as well as innovative PEM and alkaline systems, or new e-NH3, e-MeOH, e-SAF technologies); - try out innovative out of the box thinking solutions like methane pyrolysis processes, new H2 fueled oxy-fuel combustion and iron fuel. My presentation as well as the presentation of the other speakers will soon be available on the website of Hydrogen Tech World. And interview with the Hydrogen Tech World magazine from last month you can find here:

The state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil is experiencing disastrous flooding due to heavy rainfall. We are now building links to connect Dutch companies that could help Brazil with their water management expertise. Are you active in irrigation or drainage within the water sector or agriculture? Then register for this seminar taking place on June 14th at the Wageningen University & Research (WUR) You can find further information about the event and market report in the link below.

Can we "De-Carbonize the Caribbean"? Can a 'big idea' around energy transition and the climate crisis unify the region? Can the Caribbean be the “Sustainable Technologies and Education 'Campus'" for the world? Can the Caribbean be seen as a microcosm of the planet? Can big ideas come from small places? Leaders in the Caribbean are ready for change. They know that the climate crisis affects them dramatically - affecting coral populations; fish stock; ocean temperatures; hurricane strength; etc. There is political consensus around change that has lasting impact. Some innovators are already focused on various aspects of sustainability, including investing in the "Hydrogen Transition."  Besides wind, solar, wave and geothermal resources, the Caribbean has some unique history, and advantages for the world. For a moment think of the Caribbean, not as a broad region with important and diverse island-sized countries -- which it is -- but as a complex single large ‘country’ of 44 million, with 33 ‘cities.' This 'country' would be the same population as Poland, Canada, Morocco, etc. or 2x the population of Romania; Netherlands; Cambodia; etc. This Caribbean ‘country’ is a pioneer. It was the first region in the world to globalize (over 500 years ago); has faced all the grand policy issues of our time (e.g. wealth, poverty, race, migration, identity, etc.); has dynamic creativity in many fields (e.g. music, sports, arts, etc.); has all the great civilizations present for the longest time (e.g. Indigenous, European, African, Asian, etc.); and is the first real melting pot and “stoba” of cultures. The Caribbean is geopolitically and economically significant. It borders some powerful economies (e.g. the U.S., specially the large states of Texas and Florida, in particular, but also large countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela); has investments and historical presence from all the major OECD / European Union countries (e.g. US, UK, France, Netherlands, Spain, Canada, etc), and increasingly from China, Saudi Arabia, etc. The Caribbean is also known to the world, as the travel destination for the general public, and ‘playground’ for private sector millionaires and billionaires, and hosts many global family offices. They come there because they love the Caribbean. It’s their home too. In short, the Caribbean is the world in a microcosm. It represents the hopes and, sadly, the failures of humanity. It has a sense of urgency about the climate crisis; has investable public and private sector capital; and untapped opportunities. The Caribbean may be the most interesting and easiest region to 'de-carbonize.' In the process, it would lead the energy transition, and be the “Sustainable Technologies and Education 'Campus'" for the world. The Caribbean is large enough to be relevant, and small enough to create impact. Solutions developed in the region can be scaled elsewhere. BIG Ideas can come from small places!