Empire Diversified Energy, Inc. announced the execution of the sub-recipient agreement with Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle) for the Appalachian Regional Clean H₂ Hub (ARCH2). Battelle leads the Project Management Office for ARCH2 in partnership with the Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). This is the final step for Empire Green Generation, LLC (Green Gen), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire, to secure federal funding to assist in the first phase of development of its state-of-the-art facility that will convert food waste into renewable H₂ as one of 11 Project Development Partners (PDPs) in the ARCH2 Hub.

Empire and project partner, Heartland Water Technology (Heartland), will develop a project for ARCH2 that employs food waste treatment in an anaerobic digester, which produces biogas and residual solid material (digestate). Heartland will subsequently apply its proprietary HelioStorm™ ultra-high temperature ionic gasifier technology to perform methane pyrolysis of the biogas to produce clean H₂ and valuable, sustainable carbon black. The digestate will be processed through Heartland's proprietary LTC Dry™ and HelioStorm™ gasifiers in a parallel pathway to produce an ultra-pure, tar-free synthesis gas. This gas will be used to generate clean energy, powering the entire conversion system described, and reducing reliance on the grid and fossil fuels.

The Heartland and Empire partnership in the ARCH2 program represents a significant step forward in converting waste into sustainable H₂ production for the Appalachian region.

"The project not only aligns with our vision to redefine waste, it underscores the critical role of renewable H₂ in shaping a sustainable, circular economy. H₂ is more than an energy carrier; it represents a cornerstone for future sustainability goals, offering a path to decarbonize industries and energize communities in an environmentally responsible manner," said Chris Beaufait, CEO of Heartland. "Empire is a world class developer of sustainable projects. We are excited to work together to deliver an exciting and impactful waste treatment and H₂ generation plant."

Bernard Brown, Empire COO, added, "The ARCH2 H₂ hub is a beacon of innovation and leadership in the renewable energy sector. By leveraging this hub as a pivotal platform for collaboration, research, and development, we aim to demonstrate how strategic investments in decentralized H₂ infrastructure and technology can yield significant environmental and economic benefits. The integration of Heartland's HelioStorm™ technology into the project is a game-changer, harnessing groundbreakingly efficient methods to convert food waste into renewable H₂, propelling us toward our H₂ goals."

The waste-to-energy project has been underway since June 2024 and is now officially a PDP in the ARCH2 program.