On 24 May 2023, we visited Hygear. Hygear makes package units for producing hydrogen. They do this by the SMR method, using natural gas or biogas as feedstock. If you start from natural gas, you get "grey" hydrogen. If you capture the CO2, it becomes "blue" hydrogen. Capturing CO2 is not complex and there are many applications for it, including the bubbles in soft drinks. Besides SMR, Hygear is also working on electrolysis of water. In that case, you get "green" hydrogen. Of course, only if you use green steam.

We also talked about the applications of these package units. They see mobility as the main application. Petrol stations currently use hydrogen supplied by tanker truck, which can lead to dangerous situations because of hitching the cylinders on the tanker truck. When installing the Hygear unit, one does not have this. It is permanently connected to the natural gas network or to a biogas network. Another application, for which Hygear has already supplied many units, is the flat glass industry. Here, hydrogen is used to prevent inclusions when the glass solidifies on a tin bed.

It of a very interesting afternoon and we learned a lot.

On behalf of Gelderland region Gerard Thomas

HyGear's presentation can be found at 'Documents

Visit to HyGear

Date: 24 May 2023 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m

Host: Marco Kluivers

HyGear is a pioneer in small-scale hydrogen generators and gas purification systems. Since 2002, HyGear has been supplying proprietary systems that allow end-users to produce, store or purify hydrogen themselves. Advantages of this over traditional gas distribution are: Lower costs, high security of supply, lower emissions and safety. Since its establishment, HyGear has already delivered around 80 reformers worldwide to the glass, metal and oil industries, among others, and for delivery to hydrogen filling stations.

In Arnhem, Hy.GEN units are being built that convert methane gas into hydrogen through steam reforming. In addition to natural gas, future increases in biogas will be used to reduceCO2 emissions. HyGear additionally offers systems to separate and liquefyCO2 in Hy.GEN's flue gas for reuse or storage. Besides hydrogen generators, HyGear also builds gas purification systems based on Pressure Swing Adsorption technology in Arnhem.

During the visit, HyGear will talk about its existing systems and future developments. It will also take a look at the production hall where systems are built.

Photo: HyGear hydrogen system

Documents