Raven SR Inc. is collaborating with with Republic Services Inc. to convert organic waste to produce green hydrogen at a site in Richmond, California.

Raven SR will initially process up to 99.9 t of organic waste per day at Republic Services' West Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill and produce up to 2,000 metric t per year of renewable hydrogen as well as power for its operations. Raven SR's patented Steam/CO₂ Reformation process enables it to be one of the only non-combustion, waste-to-hydrogen processes in the world. Additionally, Raven SR's goal is to generate as much of its own power onsite to reduce burden on the grid.

The agreement will help move toward California's goal of reducing emissions from organic waste under the state's Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Reduction Strategy while also producing emission-free hydrogen fuel for passenger and heavy-duty vehicles.  

"Republic Services gives us a foundation to produce green hydrogen for commercial use in the transportation sector in Northern California. As we bring this system online under very strict environmental regulatory controls, we will demonstrate we can convert waste anywhere," said Matt Murdock, Raven SR CEO. "We're excited to be working in the city of Richmond to provide green hydrogen with the aim of also improving air quality."

Republic Services is involved with 75 renewable energy projects across the country. This project directly supports the company's long-term sustainability goal to increase the recovery and circularity of key materials by 40 percent by 2030. 

"We are excited about this innovative partnership with Raven SR and the opportunity to produce green hydrogen from organic waste," said Pete Keller, Republic Services vice president of recycling and sustainability. "This project not only creates additional clean energy resources in the region, but also allows us to help customers meet their sustainability goals. We believe it's imperative to achieve greater circularity with the materials we handle to help preserve the environment now and for future generations."

The agreement with Republic Services comes after Raven SR recently selected POWER Engineers to complete final engineering and design and Stellar J to fabricate its first commercial renewable fuel production facilities for the Republic site and another Northern California landfill that will be announced in the near future.

Raven SR's first commercial systems will divert a blend of green waste and food waste from the landfill, thereby reducing methane emissions and will have a negative carbon intensity generating a California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) credit for fueling stations.

Unlike competing technologies like gasification or incineration, Raven SR's process involves no combustion, as previously confirmed by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, avoiding the creation of toxic pollutants and particulates. The Raven SR Steam/CO₂ Reformation process also presents a valid alternative to electrolysis converting waste rather than precious and limited water resources for green hydrogen production.