Hazer achieves first hydrogen and graphite at commercial demonstration plant

Hazer Group has announced the start-up of its Commercial Demonstration Plant (CDP) and first production of hydrogen and graphite. The company introduced feed gas to the reactor at Hazer process conditions on 31 January and subsequently achieved first hydrogen and Hazer-produced graphite at the facility.

The company expects to ramp up operations through the first half of 2024, safely executing the performance testing program to deliver data that demonstrates its commercial readiness. The performance testing program will focus on demonstrating continuous operation at a commercial scale and be leveraged into Hazer’s global commercial project portfolio. Hazer will provide updates as key results become available.

“This is a landmark achievement for Hazer, as we realise the successful start-up of our CDP and the production of low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen and graphitic carbon utilising our world-first pyrolysis technology,” said Hazer’s CEO and MD Glenn Corrie. “As the team strive towards extended continuous operation of the plant in 2024, we are excited to build on this momentum for the next scale-up of the technology with our global partners in key markets, including North America, Europe and Asia.

The Hazer Process is a novel method to produce low-emissions hydrogen from a renewable form of methane. According to ARENA, “The process utilises methane as a feedstock to produce hydrogen without producing CO₂ in the reaction process — instead capturing the carbon in the feedstock as solid graphite.”

Image: Hazer's CDP site in Perth, Western Australia.