Hydrogen Utopia International PLC (HUI) and Linde Engineering signed a framework agreement for the supply of technology and equipment to a waste-to-hydrogen system in Europe. HUI will build a waste-to-hydrogen system where plastics are converted into syngas, from which valuable products such as chemical precursors, hydrogen, electricity and other industrial products will be derived. Linde Engineering will supply the technology to clean the syngas and also extract and process hydrogen.

A HUI/Linde Engineering technical feasibility study earlier this year explored the development of a chemical recylcing plant in Konin, Central Poland. As a result, HUI will build a plant which is able to convert 40 tpd of plastic waste into 58 MWh of renewable electricity and clean hydrogen. Once the plant is operational, the hydrogen will be used locally as a fuel for transportation and district heating. 

In 2021, Hydrogen Utopia International PLC acquired exclusive rights to the Powerhouse DMG chemical recycling system in Poland, Hungary and Greece and non-exclusive access in the rest of the European Economic Area. HUI is in advanced discussions with various regions and potential partners or customers about further sites in Europe.

The Konin project, when completed, will contain ten DMG units in one location. The site is one where HUI has the necessary title and legal access to commence planning applications, necessary permits and EIA and for this purpose HUI has engaged SWECO to commence the permitting process. The project is subject to funding approval by the Just Transition Fund which will be matched by funds from the Polish Government for the supply of technology and equipment to a waste-to-hydrogen system in Europe.

HUI will build a waste-to-hydrogen system where plastics are converted into syngas, from which valuable products such as chemical precursors, hydrogen, electricity and other industrial products will be derived. Linde Engineering will supply the technology to clean the syngas and also extract and process hydrogen.

The ambitions and hopes of HUI for deploying the DMG technology are high, due to the Pan- European JTF Mechanism, which is the biggest financial support ever provided by the European Union. The JTF Post-Covid Fund is estimated at 1.7 T EUR and will be distributed in the form of grants and soft loans in order to meet the EU’s net-zero objectives by 2030.

Hydrogen is increasingly seen as an essential component in the energy transition to clean energy away from fossil fuels. It is the best available technology for heavy-duty and long-range transport, as well as for decarbonizing key industries including cement and steel production and potentially domestic heating. 

Polish Hydrogen Strategy 2030, which is currently being implemented, sets out six key targets and forty steps that must be taken to achieve European Union guidelines. The three sectors where hydrogen will be needed are energy, transport and industry. Poland is looking for new energy solutions in order to reduce its dependency on coal and make a swift transition towards sustainable energy.

Over the course of 2019, the city of Konin prepared a new energy transition strategy for the city, which includes both waste-to-energy initiatives as well as using hydrogen as a fuel for local transport and municipal companies. The city is currently engaged, together with other relevant regional stakeholders, in preparing the territorial Just Transition plan for the Eastern Wielkopolska region.

This transition would not be possible without a close collaboration between HUI and Powerhouse Energy Group PLC, the licensor of the DMG technology. Powerhouse Energy Group PLC is a UK based company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange Powerhouse has developed a proprietary process technology - DMG - which can utilize waste plastic, end-of-life-tyres, and other waste streams to efficiently and economically convert them into syngas from which valuable products such as chemical precursors, hydrogen, electricity and other industrial products may be derived. The DMG technology is one of the world's first proven, distributed, modular, hydrogen-from-waste processes. The process produces low levels of safe residues and requires a small operating footprint, making it suitable for deployment at enterprise and community level.