Frequently Asked Questions

The ECR technology stands out from other Hydrogen technologies due to its groundbreaking features. It is a low-temperature, liquid-phase process that efficiently produces Hydrogen from various carbonaceous sources, consuming less energy and capturing the carbon in the feedstock without extra expenses.

The ECR technology offers several advantages over water electrolysis. It requires much less energy per kilogram of Hydrogen produced, making it highly efficient and able to run on lower-value waste heat. The feedstock, derived from sugar cane and potentially agave, is converted to Hydrogen on-site and as needed, eliminating the need for separate hydrogen storage and costly infrastructure like pipelines or cryogenic ships. This leads to reduced delivery costs. Additionally, ECR's safety profile is favorable compared to certain hydrogen carriers, and in many cases, permits can be obtained more quickly, expediting the implementation process.

The ECR technology produces Pure Green Hydrogen (>99.99%) through a liquid-phase process that involves combining the feedstock, process water, and an electrolyte solution. The Green Hydrogen is then separated from the liquid using a standard gas-liquid separator. Unlike other methods, the ECR system doesn't need gas-phase compression of Hydrogen. Instead, it can deliver Green Hydrogen at just a few psi above the liquid pressure. This pressure can be adjusted according to customer requirements, providing flexibility and efficiency in the delivery process.

The ECR process offers two options for dealing with CO2. Since the carbon in the feedstock is biogenic, it can be vented as CO2 without causing additional emissions, as it was originally captured by plants. Alternatively, the captured carbon has the potential to be converted into hydrocarbons using a complementary technology owned by 3G&S. However, it's important to note that this specific technology is still under development at the moment.

There is no liquid disposal. The liquid consists of fuel, process water and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution is recycled, additional fuel and process water are added as needed.

The feedstock for the initial years of production is sugar cane derivatives. The company will not require sugar cane mills to plant additional cane, but rather source from their existing sugar cane-based ethanol production capacity, which is primarily used as a fuel. Sugar cane use will be phased out by replacing it with agave.

Agave has major advantages compared to sugar cane. Agave are dessert succulents, which will thrive in semi-arid land (non-food land). Globally there are currently approximately 2 billion hectares of suitable, semi-arid land available. Agave requires significantly less water than sugar cane and the biomass yield on a ton/hectare/year basis is comparable to sugar cane.