Page 39 - Plastics News August 2022

INNOVATION IN PLASTICS

Plastic-to-Hydrogen Plants Ready to Take Over The World With New IPO

tonnes of plastic is produced each year, a momentum will gather to add numerous
fraction of which is recycled or disposed other locations.
of responsibly, with production expected HUI’s waste plastic to hydrogen process,
to double by 2030 and quintuple by incorporating DMG® technology, is an
2050. HUI’s systems will solve the dual efficient and environmentally friendly
issue of dispensing with non-recyclable technology that converts end of life
and end-of-life plastics and aiding plastics into a source of energy. An
decarbonisation through providing advanced thermal chemical recycling
hydrogen and other energy sources not process takes unrecyclable plastics
dependent upon the use of coal, natural and converts them into syngas (a
ydrogen Utopia International PLC gas, oil and fossil fuel derived electricity mixture of methane, hydrogen and
H(HUI) the company pioneering HUI is targeting areas where there is carbon monoxide) through a robust,
non-recyclable waste plastics to hydrogen a significant private sector interest or scientifically well-established technology.
technology made the announcement potential financial backing is accessible The system deals with all types of waste
on the 6th of January 2022, under the and/or where substantial EU and/or plastic, which requires no cleaning but
ticker “HUI”. government funded sources of grants and simply need to be shredded.
The company’s primary goal and loans are available, such as the EU’s “Just The HUI units will typically see an
ambition is to build the first waste Transition Fund” which was set up to output of up to 2.7 tonnes of pure
plastic to hydrogen system on the help fossil fuel dependent communities road fuel quality hydrogen from 40
European continent incorporating transition towards climate neutrality. tonnes of plastic feedstock. The model
Powerhouse Energy Group plc’s (AIM: HUI’s flagship project is set to be in has the capacity to be rolled out across
PHE) DMG® technology and to create Konin, Poland. Following the signing the globe and is adaptable in line with
a substantial project pipeline worldwide. of an agreement between HUI and site specifics and characteristics – for
Initially HUI acquired the exclusive the City of Konin in February 2021, example the electrified thermo chemical
rights to market Powerhouse’s DMG® prestigious engineering firm Sweco conversion chamber could be supplied
technology in Hungary, Poland and has been instrumental in identifying from local renewable sources, rendering
Greece and has non-exclusive rights for a suitable plot for the proposed HUI the production step of valuable syngas
the rest of the world. plant, close to the city’s existing waste with zero or low carbon emissions. The
HUI has forged strong alliances with remediation facilities. It is anticipated systems can be constructed on as little
leading players in their fields such as that up to ten HUI plants will be built in as 1.5 hectares and can be bolted on
Linde (the leading global industrial gases Konin in due course. An environmental to existing waste remediation facilities
group), Sweco (one of Europe’s leading impact assessment application has been with ease.
engineering, environmental technology submitted – put together by Sweco Guy Peters, Executive Chairman of
and architecture consultancies) and engineers in conjunction with HUI – HUI, commented: “Today’s listing
Electron Thermal Processing (a Dutch and it is anticipated that approval should is an important milestone in HUI’s
specialist heat treatment system provider) be granted within the next 9-12 months. development. We are pioneering the
in order to ensure a successful rollout of In addition, HUI has signed letters of use of technology to turn non-recyclable
its systems. intent with the city of Simitli, in Bulgaria, waste plastics into hydrogen – addressing
Plastic pollution is one of the most the city of Florina, in Greece, and strong the major environmental threat posed by
pressing environmental issues of the opportunities have been identified in waste plastic and providing alternative
21st Century – rapidly increasing Hungary and the Netherlands. As soon energy sources which are not dependent
production of disposable plastic products as the first HUI plant is operational and upon the use of coal, natural gas, oil and
is overwhelming the world’s ability to the waste plastics-to-hydrogen vision fossil fuel derived electricity.”
deal with them. Currently 368 million becomes a reality, HUI anticipates

39 PLASTICS NEWS August 2022