Xebec Adsorption Inc. revealed that it has signed a contract with Belgium-based Desmet Ballestra Group to deliver the company’s first Hy.GEN-e on-site electrolyer unit for a food application.

The electrolyzer system which produces 215 kg/d of hydrogen will be used by one of Desmet Bellestra’s major customers in North Africa for a hydrogenation process.

“We are excited to receive our first electrolyzer order for this use case from Desmet Ballestra. They are a worldwide leader in the fields of engineering, supply of plants and equipment for oils and fats, and oleochemicals. This is great validation of our electrolysis offering which adds to the breadth of our decentralized hydrogen generation technology portfolio,” said Marinus van Driel, President of Xebec Europe.

“To date, we have successfully delivered four Hy.GEN systems, which are based on steam methane reforming process for food hydrogenation at facilities located in Bangladesh and Colombia. We feel that it is important to give customers the option to choose the most appropriate technology for their needs. Xebec believes this agnostic approach will be valuable to customers going forward as they consider the lifecycle costs and carbon emissions from their gas supply,” said van Driel.

As industrial customers aim to reduce the costs and emissions of their gas supply, adopting an on-site and decentralized approach offered by Xebec can help them achieve their budget and ESG requirements.

Executing strategy to use industrial supply as a launchpad for hydrogen mobility
The company is leveraging its industrial expertise and supply to allow for local production of adequate quantities of hydrogen while addressing the upcoming demand from fuel cell.

This announced installation will not only contribute to local industrial hydrogen supply, but excess hydrogen quantities of high purity hydrogen can be used to fill emerging demand from FCEVs. The company believes that this approach can support the economic rollout of hydrogen refueling infrastructure.