【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】1046–2023: China’s first 200 Nm3/h bioethanol reformation hydrogen production unit put into operation
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Ten years of rapid development in chemical technology – praise for China’s prosperity and strength. This is just a starting point; more participation from everyone will make things even more lively. HaiChuan becomes even better with your involvement; we welcome everyone to join in the forum discussions. It’s hot in July, so be careful to prevent fires. ----------------------------------------------Recently, China’s first bioethanol reformation hydrogen production unit with a capacity of 200 Nm3/h, developed jointly by SDIC Biotechnology Investment Co., Ltd. (referred to as “SDIC Bio”) and the Research Center for Eco-Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was successfully put into operation at SDIC Guangdong Bioenergy Co., Ltd. To date, it has been operating continuously for over 400 hours, with a hydrogen purity of 5N. Bioethanol is one of the most widely used renewable energies at present, with an annual global production of around 90 million tons. It plays an important role in addressing energy crises and protecting the environment. Moreover, its ease of transportation and storage, non-toxicity, and high energy density make it one of the ideal raw materials for hydrogen production. For many years, numerous institutions in the two major bioethanol-producing countries, the United States and Brazil, have been working on the development of bioethanol reformation hydrogen production technology. However, factors such as catalyst stability and raw material prices hinder the industrial development of this technology. It is reported that the device uses an efficient hydrogen production catalyst developed over more than a decade by the team led by Academician He Hong from the Ecology Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; it integrates the oxidation reforming hydrogen production process with catalytic oxidative gas separation technology, enabling stable operation at high energy efficiency. It is reported that the development of this catalyst began in 2011, and 12 years of technical expertise have been accumulated to date; relevant research results have been published in renowned journals such as the Journal of Energy Chemistry, Journal of Power Sources, and International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. The catalyst selected for this project has been put into mass production, with an ethanol-to-hydrogen conversion capacity of 5.2 mol/mol; its widespread application can promote the industrial development of hydrogen production from bioethanol. SDIC Bio said that this project aims to produce hydrogen using bioethanol, and in the future it will explore industries and processes such as hydrogen refueling services and hydrogen-based operations, in order to create an integrated supply chain for hydrogen production, storage, transportation, refueling, and utilization, thereby promoting the commercialization of the fuel cell vehicle industry and the hydrogen industry. The successful commissioning of this first bioethanol reformation hydrogen production unit will help promote the development of containerized skid-mounted equipment, accelerate the achievement of a green hydrogen supply, and contribute to the realization of the dual-carbon goals.
According to available information, SDIC Bio-Technology Investment Co., Ltd. focuses on bioenergy; its development strategy adheres to the principles of \"innovation, coordination, sustainability, openness, and sharing\", and it is committed to improving air quality and adjusting the energy structure. Hydrogen energy projects represent a comprehensive solution for achieving carbon emission reductions; they have the potential to enhance economic benefits through carbon emission trading, and to contribute to the achievement of the **\"dual carbon\" goals. Through the development of renewable energy, SDIC Bio enhances industrial collaboration and continues to promote the growth of the hydrogen energy industry by establishing a \"zero-carbon factory model.\" It also enjoys advantages in terms of easy access to raw materials for hydrogen production as well as strong industrial synergies, which enable it to improve the efficiency and value of comprehensive resource utilization. Looking to the future, SDIC Bio will, in line with the requirements of the \"1+N\" policy framework for carbon peak and carbon neutrality, focus on overcoming the key technical challenges associated with cellulose ethanol production. It will also actively explore the large-scale demonstration application of advanced bio-liquid fuels in the transportation sector, as well as accelerate the research and development and practical application of hydrogen produced from renewable energy sources. Hydrogen production via bioethanol reformation is a hydrogen production process that uses renewable energy sources for which production technologies are already mature. It represents an efficient method for producing \"green hydrogen\" that has the potential to be put into industrial use in the near future. This technology aligns with industrial policies and boasts broad market prospects; it holds significant strategic importance for the development of a modern energy system in China that is clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient.
At present, most of the \"green hydrogen\" in China is produced in the western regions. The hydrogen and fuel cell industries are well-developed in the eastern areas, but hydrogen prices remain high, and it is difficult to ensure a supply of green hydrogen there. Bioethanol reformation hydrogen production units can be installed directly in hydrogen refueling stations to supply affordable green hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles in proximity, which not only yields economic benefits in the short term but also contributes more to achieving the goal of carbon neutrality. However, the technologies related to biohydrogen production are not yet fully mature, and further research is needed before they can be applied on a large scale. However, in 2023, breakthroughs were also made in the industrialization of biohydrogen production. In February 2023, China’s first bio-hydrogen power generation project began trial operations. The project builds on the latest research achievements in biological hydrogen production by the team led by Academician Ren Nanqi of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. It leverages the strengths of HydroBlue Era, Guangdong University of Technology Environmental Engineering, and Longjiang Environmental Protection in areas such as smart hydrogen energy solutions, the transformation of innovative technology research results into practical applications, system integration, as well as the demonstration and promotion of environmental protection technologies. Through demonstration projects, it aims to promote industrial applications and seize the lead in terms of technology and market share in the field of comprehensive applications of biological hydrogen power generation. At the end of June, China’s first bioethanol reformation hydrogen production unit with a capacity of 200 Nm3/h, developed jointly by SDIC Biotechnology Investment Co., Ltd. and the Research Center for Eco-Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was successfully put into operation at SDIC Guangdong Bioenergy Co., Ltd. As one of the most widely used renewable energies in the world today, the operation of the first facility for producing hydrogen through the reformation of bioethanol opens up a new pathway for the \"green hydrogen\" industry. Converting bioethanol into hydrogen helps address the issue of a shortage in hydrogen supply, further promotes the commercialization of the hydrogen industry chain, facilitates the widespread use of hydrogen-powered vehicles, and boosts the development of the hydrogen industry.