Focus
Hydrogen
Green Hydrogen is one of the most critical materials in the energy transition. Due to its high energy content and low density, however, hydrogen storage and transportation requires a lot of energy to compress it physically or cool it to sub-zero temperatures. This is why most hydrogen is produced very near its point of use, mostly refineries, and chemical companies and/or steel mills. Hydrogen can be transported more cost-effectively by pipeline, but there are very few pipelines that meet the physical requirements for moving it due to its reactivity with materials and due to its small molecular size. For this reason, Syntex Industries (a subsidiary of SNRG) plans to combine most hydrogen not used on-site with other basic chemicals to form “hydrogen carriers” which that can be stored and transported much more efficiently. Syntex will use the two most common and widely-used hydrogen carriers, ammonia, made from hydrogen and nitrogen, and methanol, made with hydrogen with carbon monoxide. These carrier chemicals can be stored in low-pressure containers with at or near ambient temperature and used as a base chemical directly in the production of other materials or “cracked” at the point of use to reform the pure hydrogen for direct use.
Strategy
Hydrogen Grid
Given the physical characteristics of Hydrogen, Syntex believes the most efficient and cost-effective way to deliver hydrogen across the globe is via (a) a grid of hydrogen power plants, producing pure “fresh” hydrogen within a 200+/- mile radius and, (b) ammonia or methanol based hydrogen carriers for long-term storage and cost-practical transportation. This approach avoids the alternative of large, expensive “hydrogen hubs” or “microgrids”, lacking both flexibility and inter-connectivity (such as a platform of independently owned, unrelated utilities). A National grid will also facilitate conversion from diesel-dependent transportation to one based on clean, renewable hydrogen. Fortunately, a large amount of renewable energy is already available on the electrical grid, though due to its nature, it is often available at times when consumers and industry are not ready to use it. Our hydrogen power plants are designed to use the excess (low-cost, off-peak) energy when it’s available, effectively storing the energy for later use. When solar and wind energy are low and demand is high, we can produce electricity from these fuels in a conventional manner and return the power to the grid. This process will reduce overall cost of energy to the public and provide a cleaner, eco-friendly environment. The result is an improvement in energy, security and reliability without increasing the reliance on fossil fuels.