Hazer Process commercial demonstration plant on schedule

Hazer Group has announced that its commercial demonstration plant (CDP) is on schedule to commence the second phase of its operation (‘hot operations’), to produce hydrogen and graphitic carbon, in 2023.

Procurement activities for the replacement heat exchanger and the hot reactor equipment have now progressed beyond previous critical points of failure, enabling the delivery and installation of the remaining hot equipment and facilitating the early commissioning of the CDP in Q3/Q4 2023.

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.”

The company said the heat exchanger has successfully passed a critical heat treatment milestone, and hot reactor materials are fully completed and successfully passed inspection.

“This is a significant set of hurdles now passed that strengthens the confidence in delivering our target of CDP start-up in 2023,” said Hazer MD and CEO Glenn Corrie. “The resourcefulness and resolve of the team has enabled us to accelerate the procurement and fabrication process ensuring that quality standards are met while maintaining schedule.

“Our CDP will deliver the demonstration of our world-first technology on a continuous basis at industrial scale and optimise it for commercial deployment providing a near-term and importantly low-cost decarbonisation solution for global hard-to-abate industries.”

In order to raise additional funds to progress the commercialisation, the company has also announced pro-rata share offer to existing shareholders to raise up to approximately $15.3 million.

Hazer said the funds raised are to be principally used towards supporting the ongoing operational performance from the CDP post start-up in 2023, R&D to advance and prepare the technology for commercial-scale deployment, and for advancing current commercial projects in North America.