Turning biomass into clean, low-cost energy
With exceptionally low CAPEX and global applicability, the process enables efficient, scalable production of biohydrogen

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Global energy consumption is not only growing, but accelerating. Since 1850, consumption has increased by 138%, 155%, 231%, 402%, and over the past 50 years an astonishing 801%. As energy transition and net zero goals take center stage, hydrogen emerges as a compelling alternative: renewable, versatile, storable, and transportable. However, current global hydrogen production emits 74 MtCO₂/year about as much as the UK and Indonesia combined.

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An estimated US$345 billion in investments by 2030 is expected to spark a market worth US$0.8 trillion by 2070, primarily for renewable hydrogen. In Brazil, the National Hydrogen Program seeks to identify barriers and the potential for hydrogen as a clean energy source.

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...How can we unlock the energy potential of biomass from organic waste?
hubz and its partners have validated an innovative low-cost, negative-carbon solution for producing renewable hydrogen. The technique is compatible with various types of biomass, supports diverse scales, and is adaptable to different geographic contexts. It involves the conversion of organic waste into hydrogen and biomethane, followed by plasmolysis to generate additional hydrogen and carbon.

Lab tests show impressive results: a 775% increase in biomethane and hydrogen output, energy conversion efficiency 800% higher than water electrolysis, negative carbon balance, generation of biofertilizer, and compliance with Brazil’s National Solid Waste Policy.

 

Compared to gray or even green hydrogen, the resulting biohydrogen offers superior environmental performance and significantly lower costs. The next milestone is scaling up the system into a pilot plant.

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...What hubz can deliver for you?​

Main innovation

Co-digestion of residual biomass that yields bonuses of biomethane and hydrogen, combined with high-efficiency plasmolysis of biomethane to generate additional hydrogen and solid carbon, part of which is reused in the digestion process. With extremely low CAPEX and broad applicability, this technique turns waste disposal costs into a revenue stream while enabling scalable, efficient production of biohydrogen.

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Applications and benefits

• Renewable hydrogen and biomethane

• Compatible with diverse waste types and operational scales

• Hydrogen with a negative carbon footprint

• Hydrogen as a nature-based solution

• Energy conversion efficiency (kg/kWh) 800% higher than electrolysis

• Much lower CAPEX and OPEX than electrolysis

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Technology readiness level
The goal is to develop, build, and operate a pilot plant to demonstrate the technology at TRL 7.