Modern Hydrogen conducted successful acceptance testing of on-site hydrogen generation and carbon capture technology with NW Natural, clearing the way for deployment in Oregon.
First Published October 31, 2023
Modern Hydrogen and NW Natural successfully completed acceptance testing of new hydrogen generation technology at Modern Hydrogen’s Woodville, Wash. test facility, marking a significant advancement in gas system innovation. This pivotal phase, which integrates novel technologies with real-world utility operations, received a green light from NW Natural, paving the way for the delivery of decarbonized fuel to customers and signaling the potential for Modern Hydrogen to scale distributed decarbonization solutions. The acceptance test sets a remarkable precedent in the global pursuit of innovative, practical energy solutions.
Lindsey Motlow, Senior Research Associate of Sustainability and Energy Transition at Darcy Partners, elaborated on the importance of this venture, “The Preliminary Acceptance Test and implementation of Modern Hydrogen’s methane pyrolysis technology with Northwest Natural represents a pioneering milestone with distributed pyrolysis technology directly integrating with an operating gas system.”
During the acceptance testing, representatives from Modern Hydrogen and NW Natural meticulously reviewed safety procedures, system architecture, startup and steady-state functionality, integrations of key subsystems, carbon removal, and handling processes. This in-depth examination is designed to ensure the seamless functionality and safety of the innovative system in demanding environments.
“Methane pyrolysis produces what is known as “turquoise” hydrogen; it is a hydrogen production pathway with the potential of low-to-negative carbon intensity,” Lindsey Motlow of Darcy Partners explained. “Given the engineering and cost hurdles associated with large-scale hydrogen production, storage, and transport, the commercial maturation of distributed ‘turquoise’ hydrogen presents a compelling solution for on-site decarbonization, especially to customers connected to existing natural gas infrastructure.”
Chris Kroeker of NW Natural and Mothusi Pahl, VP of Business Development and Government Affairs at Modern Hydrogen, shared their enthusiasm:
“We were excited to see Modern Hydrogen’s technology in action at the preliminary acceptance test. Clean hydrogen promises to be a key component of NW Natural’s decarbonization strategy, and we look forward to deploying this pilot project with Modern Hydrogen” said Chris Kroeker of NW Natural.
“Modern Hydrogen moving forward to field deployment says a lot. We are on track for Q4 deployment and are excited to start reducing Oregon’s CO2 emissions. NW Natural is one of our flagship clients. So, we pay really close attention to what their safety and operations teams need. It’s always great to have NW Natural onsite for testing and feedback,” said Mothusi Pahl of Modern Hydrogen.
The synergy between Modern Hydrogen and NW Natural embodies a promising venture that not only leverages existing assets and human capital but also introduces groundbreaking technology for on-site decarbonization, showcasing a scalable solution for immediate impact.
“Modern Hydrogen and NW Natural are at the forefront of decarbonization in North America,” said Mothusi Pahl of Modern Hydrogen. “Moving this groundbreaking technology into the field is really a signal of the maturity of our work. We will start small this winter, but we have every expectation that our decarbonization impact will grow by at least 1,000x within the next 2-3 years.”
This was the first installment of the Hydrogen Horizons: Fueling the Future newsletter by Modern Hydrogen. This newsletter will contain details about milestones, new implementations, technological explanations, collaboration opportunities, and emissions reduction techniques. Want to co-author an article with us or submit a topic for consideration? Message us!