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Green Hydrogen Production

MicroPro GmbH is convinced that regene­rative hydrogen production from biomass can play an important role, especially for decen­tra­lized hydrogen supply. Since we isolated bacterial strains that produce hydrogen in 2003, we have been working on the process of dark fermen­tation. Since July 2019, extensive research has been carried out in this area as part of the joint research project “HyPer­Ferment — Micro­bio­lo­gical process develo­pment for hydrogen production and supply”, funded by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the European Union (ERDF). (project poster) In addition to extensive laboratory tests, plant-side develo­p­ments, modeling for possible upscaling and initial conside­ra­tions for integrating the process into an existing biogas plant are planned. To this end, a further partner has been acquired as a plant operator. In the follow-up project “HyPerFerment-II”, the process will be econo­mically verified in its entirety with the help of a pilot plant.

There is an intensive world wide research ongoing to develop processes for biolo­gical hydrogen production. In the analysis of micro­bio­lo­gical processes for biogas production it has been recognized, that it is possible to decouple the hydrogen-producing phase from the methane production spatially and tempo­rally. Therefore, this process can be used as a source for organic hydrogen. Through intensive research the MicroPro GmbH succeeded in isolating and adapting special bacterial cultures that are able to produce a hydrogen-rich gas from biomass. Laboratory results from earlier basic research and laboratory fermen­ta­tions show that as a metabolic product of certain bacteria, a gas mixture of H₂ and CO₂ with 50 — 60 % hydrogen content is produced. This mixture can be purified easily by subse­quent CO₂-separation.

With the modular coupling of hydrogen production in a biogas plant (BGP), the following advan­tages are expected:

• Use of conven­tional BGP-commodity flows,
• Extension of the range of raw materials for the BGP by pre-fermentation and purification,
• reducing the residence time in the BGP by pre-fermentation,
• lower costs when using bio-waste (urban waste, food waste, etc.) due to the sanitizing effect in the hydrogen fermenter,
• higher energy yield of biomass

The method is charac­te­rized by a stable hydrogen production with high yield. Furthermore, various technical available raw materials were already tested hedging the supply of the plant. Present laboratory data demons­trate the economic feasi­bility of hydrogen production in technical dimensions.

The MicroPro GmbH is confident that the regene­rative hydrogen production from biomass can play an important role especially for decen­tra­lized hydrogen supply. For the imple­men­tation of the process on an industrial-scale coope­ration partners are being sought.

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