The Colorado School of Mines, in partnership with Houston-based Utility Global, has been awarded a $150,000 proof of concept grant from the State of Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The award, in response to a proposal by Dr. Neal Sullivan titled “Hydrogen production and CO2 utilization with eXERO ceramics,” aims to further the commercialization of Utility Global’s eXERO technology and promote job creation at both the Golden university and Utility Global Advanced Technology Center in Denver.
The joint venture seeks to enhance Utility Global’s eXERO technology, focusing on hydrogen production and CO2 reduction. Essential infrastructure at the Colorado Fuel Cell Center will be utilized in the process. Utility Global, together with the university’s scientists, faculty and students, will study eXERO performance across a range of temperatures and pressures to better calibrate the technology’s electrochemical operating capabilities.
Dr. Stefan Reinartz, chief technology officer of Utility Global, hailed the partnership, saying, “Our eXERO technology is unique to the industry and enables the significant decarbonization of a range of end-use markets, including steel, chemicals, liquid fuels, mobility and biogas.” Emphasizing the role of the university, he said “the equipment and expertise available through Colorado School of Mines enable high-pressure operation of eXERO ceramic cells, thereby advancing the capabilities of the technology.”
The eXERO technology is a platform that simplifies the electrolysis process by eliminating the need for electricity and electrical connections, offering a new green paradigm. The potential of this technology exists in its ability to process dilute offgas streams into hydrogen in a single reactor, hence reducing carbon footprints of existing infrastructure and processes.
“Furthering the eXERO platform’s performance will greatly expedite commercialization and ability for multiple industrial sectors to gain access to superior clean and economical hydrogen production and CO2 abatement strategies,” said Dr. Neal Sullivan, a professor of mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. “Utility Global’s eXERO platform is one of the top technologies available today to effectively decarbonize industrial sectors.”
Source: Press Release