CALGARY (NOVEMBER 15, 2023): NGIF Accelerator and its Industry Grants program are pleased to announce $365,900 in funding for Vancouver-based Hydron Energy Inc. for their innovative waste-to-fuel upgrading system.
The Intensified Regenerative Upgrading Platform Technology system (INTRUPTor™) upgrades raw biogas derived from organic waste treatment to renewable natural gas. This system will allow significant capital and operating cost savings over conventional biogas-upgrading technologies.
Image: Hydron Energy’s INTRUPTor™ a novel biogas-to-RNG upgrading system
INTRUPTor™ rapid cycle sorption technology has the potential to overcome the inherent shortcomings of conventional technologies, such as pressure swing adsorption and membranes which are currently utilized in many commercial biogas upgrading plants.
INTRUPTor™ uses two proprietary technologies: novel nano-porous sorbent in parallel passage contactor form replacing conventional adsorbents in bead forms, and integrated rotary valves, replacing solenoid-actuated valves used in Cyclic Pressure Swing Adsorption. This approach leads to process intensification compared to the incumbent systems, with the associated benefits of lower capital and operating costs.
“I am confident that INTRUPTor™ offers a cost-effective solution to the issue of biogas upgrading. We are pleased to provide funding support to Hydron Energy’s innovative technology, which has the potential to advance the progress of Renewable Natural Gas,” said John Adams, President and CEO of NGIF Accelerator and Managing Partner of NGIF Cleantech Ventures. “The Industry Grants program and its focus on de-risking clean technologies through field trials and pilots are part of NGIF’s integrated model of industry validation, customer creation, and technology commercialization.”
“The high cost of biogas upgrading is an obstacle to accelerating renewable natural gas production from biogas. The current high cost of biogas upgraders is considered a legacy of the old, complex, and expensive oil and gas refining solutions,” said Soheil Khiavi, CEO of Hydron Energy. “Hydron recognized the lack of original solutions for biofuel upgrading and took the initiative to develop an original, low-cost, and mobile solution for renewable natural gas production. The INTRUPTor™ is a disruptive technology developed by Hydron Energy to reduce biogas upgrading cost by 50%. The Balance of the Plant for this breakthrough solution was the result of our close collaboration with Modern Niagara and OX2 Solutions.”
Hydron Energy has developed the first generation INTRUPTor™ at its facility in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. The INTRUPTor™ will be field tested in late 2023 and early 2024 in Alberta and Ontario. Once the system is commercialized, Hydron will conduct additional research and development to use the solution in other markets such as clean hydrogen, direct air and carbon capture, and rare gas production.
“Canadians want and need the affordable, reliable, clean energy service offering they have come to expect from the natural gas industry. When we created NGIF, it was our vision to bring the entire natural gas value chain together to support cleantech development that enhances environmental and economic performance for the sector. I am glad to see our vision in action, as NGIF continues to support technologies like Hydron Energy”,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO, Canadian Gas Association and Chair, NGIF Capital Corporation.
Industry Grants Participants and Project Partners
About Industry Grants program
The Industry Grants program is industry-led and offers non-dilutive grants to fund early-stage startups for technology development and field demonstration. The program specifically de-risks pre-commercial technology solutions that have the potential to increase the environmental performance of the natural gas sector. Each project in the program will accelerate technology readiness level progressions through controlled pilot testing and field trials to advance commercialization. The Industry Grants program is operated by the NGIF Accelerator.
About NGIF Accelerator
NGIF Accelerator is the not-for-profit arm of NGIF Capital and will operate all technology and innovation programs. The NGIF Accelerator mandate is to de-risk and accelerate technology development by supporting startups through their pilot projects, field trials, and industry validation. It will coordinate with federal and provincial governments to co-fund projects to advance market commercialization. NGIF Accelerator currently operates the Industry Grants program and the Emissions Testing Centre program.
About Hydron Energy:
Hydron Energy is a cleaner fuel company helping hard-to-decarbonize sectors, such as transportation and industry, meet future energy demands and net-zero goals. The Company is quickly commercializing two versions of its INTRUPTor technology — one to upgrade biogas to RNG and the other to purify hydrogen.
About Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry.
Fund Information:
John Adams
President and CEO, NGIF Accelerator
President and CEO, NGIF Capital Corporation
Managing Partner, NGIF Cleantech Ventures
613-748-0057
jadams@ngif.ca
Media Information:
Dini Philip
Communications Coordinator, NGIF Capital Corporation
(403)-389-2090
Dphilip@ngif.ca
