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CSN Believes That Laboratory-Developed Technology Can Help Reduce Costs and Make Green Hydrogen Production Viable
CSN is in the process of acquiring a minority stake in the Israeli startup H2Pro, equipped with high technology that promises to make large-scale production of green hydrogen cheaper. The investment will be made by Temasek, which has already invested in various projects, such as Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Ventures. CSN, through CSN Ventures, has put in US$ 75 million. There has been much talk lately about green hydrogen, as it could be used to replace fossil fuels. However, production costs are still very high, making its large-scale use impossible. Therefore, H2Pro is working hard to address this major issue.
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Understand How H2Pro Will Solve the Fuels Deadlock with Green Hydrogen Usage
Founded in 2019, H2Pro was established by Talmon Viber and a team of researchers from the Technion University in Israel. Of the 50 employees, 9 have PhDs. To better understand H2Pro’s plans, it’s necessary to grasp how hydrogen can be obtained, considering that it does not occur in pure form on the planet, only when associated with other elements of nature.
According to traditional chemistry – the one we learn in school – the simplest and easiest way to obtain hydrogen is through the electrolysis process, where an electric charge separates the water molecule, separating hydrogen from oxygen. It is worth noting that green hydrogen is produced using only renewable energy sources.
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During the electrolysis process, a membrane must be placed in between, preventing the two molecules from mixing, ensuring that one side has only oxygen and the other only hydrogen. According to Felipe Steinbruch, head of CSN Inova, the big breakthrough of H2Pro was developing a production process that eliminates any need for this membrane, making production 15% cheaper compared to other startups that also produce green hydrogen.
However, to make this possible, H2Pro developed a new technology that produces hydrogen and oxygen in two distinct cycles, preventing any possible mixing of the two.
More Tests Will Be Conducted Before Large-Scale Green Hydrogen Production
Although H2Pro has already completed the laboratory testing phase, it will use the resources from this first phase to build a testing factory. If everything goes according to plan, H2Pro may begin large-scale production.
The startup estimates that by 2023, it will be producing green hydrogen in large quantities at a very accessible price. The expectation is that H2Pro will be able to produce green hydrogen at US$ 1 per kg, five times lower than the current average cost. This achievement will be of great importance especially for steel mills like CSN, as it would accelerate the decarbonization process.
Currently, this sector is one of the main CO2 emitters in the world, which is very detrimental to the environment and life in general. Green hydrogen could replace highly polluting elements, such as coal used in steel and cement production.
Green Hydrogen Production and Use Will Reduce Tons of CO2 Emissions
According to Felipe, significant investment would be required to adapt the entire industrial complex in order to eventually claim zero carbon emissions. However, according to the head of CSN Inova, it is possible to use green hydrogen in various processes that do not require such high investments. He cited the example of cement burners that use coal. In this case, it would be feasible to replace it with hydrogen, thus reducing emissions by 15 to 20%.
Indeed, this is a process that takes time, but it is possible. CSN Ventures has already made about 5 other investments, one of which is in the startup 1S1, located in San Francisco, California (USA), which is also trying to reduce costs and scale up the production and use of green hydrogen.
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