PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp has provided an update on its technology for producing low carbon intensity blue hydrogen and how it fits within the definition of clean hydrogen in the draft US Infrastructure Bill.

As previously reported in the company’s statement on February 11, 2021, PowerTap, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp., intends to use renewable natural gas (RNG) blended with fossil fuel natural gas as a feedstock in its modular on-site hydrogen production and dispensing system to produce blue hydrogen.

IPowerTap Hydrogen Fueling's team anticipates that by applying its technology to produce hydrogen from existing pathways using California Air Resources Board (CARB) methodology, a carbon intensity (CI) of 0g CO₂ per megajoule (MJ) or lower could be achieved. The importance of a 0 or lower CI is that PowerTap aims to produce and dispense hydrogen with a zero or lower carbon footprint as the world moves to lower carbon footprints toward slowing or arresting the impacts of climate change.

The table below compares the carbon intensity of PowerTap’s hydrogen production with the hydrogen production and dispensing models involving production of hydrogen offsite and transported to the site of consumption (offsite production) and the production of hydrogen using the current fossil fuel-based electric grid (electrolysis). Comparing PowerTap's zero CI onsite hydrogen production model to the 117.97 g CO₂e/MJ CI for gray or blue hydrogen produced offsite or 75.93 g CO₂e/MJ CI for green hydrogen produced by electrolysis with electricity from the United States’ fossil-fuel based electric grid, PowerTap’s blue hydrogen is greener than the gray or blue hydrogen produced offsite and green hydrogen produced by electrolysis.

To achieve CI of zero (0) g CO₂ per MJ, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling has made the following assumptions: (i) its dispensed hydrogen will utilize at least 40% or greater of renewable content (i.e. RNG), as required under Paragraph 95486.2 (a)(4)(F)2 on page 83 of the Lower Carbon Fuel Standard Regulation administered by the California Air Resources Board³; (ii) there is sufficient availability of RNG feedstock noting the significant number of CARB-approved pathways having carbon intensities of -5 g CO2e/MJ to -631 g CO2e/MJ; and (iii) the availability of sufficient credits, benefits, emission reductions, offsets and allowances attributable to the production, combustion or other use of biogas . In consultation with carbon credits specialist, Carbonomics, and RNG marketer, Element Markets, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling anticipates that sufficient volumes of RNG with very low negative CIs will be available when needed and that any blend of fossil fuel natural gas and RNG with a minimum of 41% RNG plus the application of available Environmental Attributes will result in a negative CI.

“With the draft US Infrastructure Bill classifying the blue hydrogen produced with PowerTap’s onsite production and dispensing technology as clean hydrogen, the hydrogen we produce will be a component of the US’s efforts to reach zero carbon by 2050”, said Salim Rahemtulla, President of PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp.