Hazer Group

Producing hydrogen at scale is now seen as the holy grail for replacing fossil fuels for heavy industry like transport, steel production and agriculture.

In this interview, Hazer CEO Glenn Corrie explains how Hazer’s technology can create hydrogen and high-quality graphite with its low-cost, low-emissions technology.

Hazer recently completed an oversubscribed SPP raising $5.3 million - over the target of $4 million. These funds along with the $9 million raised from institutional investors last month will fund the CDP test program and commercialisation strategy for Hazer's technology.

Australian hydrogen technology company Hazer Group has secured its second major partnership deal in just a matter of months.

The company is set to collaborate with the European energy giant Engie to establish a commercial hydrogen and graphite production facility at a French LNG terminal. 

This groundbreaking agreement follows closely on the heels of Hazer Group's announcement of plans for a similar facility in Japan alongside Chubu Electric and Chiyoda.

This latest collaboration marks a significant milestone for Hazer Group as it signifies the company's inaugural entry into the European market. 

Engie, a global energy industry leader, has thrown its weight behind this venture, offering a resounding validation of Hazer Group's innovative technology.

The proposed plant is set to be situated at Engie's LNG terminal in Fos-sur-Mer, France, where it will harness Hazer Group's proprietary technology to convert natural gas into hydrogen and graphite. 

The hydrogen produced will be made available to industrial clients in the region, while the graphite will find applications in various sectors, including batteries and electric vehicles.

Hazer Group is poised to advance its hydrogen technology to commercial scale through a strategic partnership with two prominent Japanese entities. 

A memorandum of understanding outlines a collaborative effort between Hazer, Chubu Electric, and engineering firm Chiyoda Corporation, with the aim of establishing a commercial-scale hydrogen plant in Japan's Chubu region, utilising Hazer's cutting-edge technology.

This announcement follows a three-year collaboration between Hazer and Chiyoda and coincides with Hazer's preparations to commence production at a $16 million demonstration plant in Perth, partially funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. 

Hazer's revolutionary process, originating from the University of Western Australia, employs iron ore as a catalyst to convert natural gas into hydrogen, along with high-quality graphite, increasingly in demand by electric battery manufacturers. 

This method not only produces hydrogen as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels but also offers cost savings and substantially reduces carbon emissions compared to energy-intensive processes.

Chubu Electric plans to utilise the hydrogen produced by the prospective Japanese plant for power generation and other hard-to-abate industries, including transportation, in the Nagoya region.

Hazer Group has set a target date to open its commercial demonstration plant in Western Australia.

The plant will showcase the Hazer process for producing hydrogen from biomass. 

Supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the plant has successfully achieved gas flow and steady state operation, marking a significant milestone in the project's development.

The Hazer process not only produces hydrogen but also captures carbon in the form of graphite. 

The company envisions selling both hydrogen and graphite to industrial customers, enhancing its sustainability impact. Iron ore is utilised as a catalyst in this innovative process. 

Hazer Group says the project is on track for the transition to 'hot operations,' where hydrogen and graphite will be produced continuously. 

The pivotal step in this transition is the delivery and installation of a reactor and heat exchanger equipment.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has taken a decisive step in supporting the development of Hazer Group's hydrogen production plant, powered by methane biogas. 

In a move aimed at expediting progress, ARENA has agreed to accelerate the disbursement of financial support for this environmentally promising project.

The roots of this partnership trace back to 2020 when Hazer and ARENA inked an agreement to collaborate on the development of a $16.5 million commercial demonstration plant designed to produce low-emission hydrogen. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Hazer Group is set to receive $9.41 million in funding, which will facilitate the construction of the Hazer Process Commercial Demonstration Project. 

These funds will be disbursed incrementally, contingent upon the achievement of predefined milestones.

The decision to accelerate funding reflects the urgency and significance of advancing this project.