REG - EQTEC PLC - R&D facility upgraded for hydrogen and RNG testing

EQTECAnnouncement

31/10/2022 07:00

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RNS Number : 5759E  EQTEC PLC  31 October 2022

31 October 2022

 

EQTEC plc

("EQTEC", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

R&D facility successfully upgraded for hydrogen and RNG testing

 

EQTEC plc (AIM: EQT), a global technology innovator powering distributed,
decarbonised, new energy infrastructure through its waste-to-value solutions
for hydrogen, biofuels, and energy generation is pleased to announce the
 successful completion of steam-oxygen gasification tests that confirm the
suitability of EQTEC's synthesis gas ("syngas") technology for advanced
biofuels production.

 

The tests were undertaken at EQTEC's technology innovation facility in France,
in partnership with the Energy from Biomass and Wastes ("ERBE") team, part of
the Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherche sur le Matériau Bois ("LERMAB") at
Université de Lorraine ("UL") in Epinal, France. Two series of tests were
conducted in the first half of October 2022: one using established air-blown
gasification configuration with refuse-derived fuel ("RDF"), based on
equipment and an approach previously applied by EQTEC at LERMAB; the other
test applying steam-oxygen capability made possible by equipment upgrades by
EQTEC at the facility.

 

Air-blown gasification supports electrical power and thermal energy
applications, where the mix of hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide in the
syngas is less critical for the offtake application. Steam-oxygen gasification
supports hydrogen, renewable natural gas ("RNG") and other advanced biofuel
applications, where optimisation of the hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide
mix is critical for efficiency and productivity of the offtake.

 

The upgrade to the LERMAB facility and both tests were implemented as part of
EQTEC's technology innovation programme, as indicated in the Company's 2021
annual results and H1 2022 interim results. An independent report with
detailed and definitive conclusions from the test results is expected to be
issued by UL before the end of 2022.

 

The Company expects the upgrade for steam-oxygen gasification to continue
attracting the attention of strategic and technology partners with interest in
conducting trials of new energy infrastructure for hydrogen, RNG and other
advanced biofuels, based on EQTEC technology.  Such tests are already
scheduled for the first half of 2023.

 

Steam-oxygen gasification

 

One of the greatest challenges for steam-oxygen gasification is efficient
distribution of oxygen across the fluidised bed in the gasification reactor.
Historically, most trials of this approach, by a range of research institutes
and companies, have failed to achieve this, resulting in lower feedstock
conversion efficiency, a lower quality syngas and thus a lower production
and/or efficiency of hydrogen, methane or other offtake.

 

The tests by EQTEC with ERBE in October 2022 represented the integrated team's
first attempt with steam-oxygen gasification at the LERMAB facility, based on
the new upgrades. The test was very successful, with strong stability in
fluidisation and gasification temperature, which together indicate highly
efficient oxygen distribution and feedstock conversion.

 

Critically, syngas analysis indicated a clear increase in hydrogen
concentration relative to that for air-blown gasification. The capability of
EQTEC's advanced gasification technology to increase hydrogen production in
this way indicates it is able to manipulate the thermochemical conversion
process so as to maximise specific components of the syngas for greater
production of advanced biofuels and chemicals.

 

These tests, analyses and data generated will support refinements to EQTEC's
proprietary process design, computational modelling and control systems in the
interest of supporting a range of offtake application.

 

Air-blown gasification of RDF

 

The successful tests of EQTEC's air-blown gasification process technology
follow similar, successful tests with RDF completed by the Company and ERBE in
2021, as well as successful tests with contaminated plastics completed in
December 2021.

 

The specific RDF used for the tests was provided by a prospective customer of
EQTEC technology. Throughout the entirety of the air-blown gasification
testing period, EQTEC technology provided consistently strong conversion
results. The tests achieved their two primary goals of establishing and
maintaining efficient gasification and smoothing the RDF feeding-in system.

 

The analyses and results they produced provide further validation of EQTEC's
proprietary, kinetic computational model and support continuous improvement of
EQTEC's patented and proprietary process designs.

 

Yoel Alemán, CTO of EQTEC, commented:

 

"These tests are another important milestone for us in our technology
innovation roadmap. As the demand increases for highly efficient and clean
conversion facilities for hydrogen, RNG and advanced biofuels, and as
industrial clients, utility companies and municipalities look for scalable,
local-to-local solutions, EQTEC's capabilities with both air-blown and
steam-oxygen gasification will allow us to offer a range of solutions that fit
a range of business models. There are few, successful steam-oxygen
gasification facilities in the world, and we believe our success with these
tests puts us at the forefront of clean, waste-to-value capabilities. From a
technical perspective, we were pleased at how smoothly the technology
performed throughout. The data we gathered will allow us to fine-tune our
proprietary process capabilities and we can look forward to applying the new
knowledge to future testing for prospective customers."

 

Yann Rogaume, Professor and Head of the ERBE Team, commented:

 

"Hydrogen is the future of energy, and these most recent augmentations to the
technology and automation will help us optimise hydrogen and advanced biofuels
for a range of interesting tests and results. The syngas produced through
EQTEC's technology can be used directly or easily transformed into hydrogen,
methane or other biofuels, and from a wide range of fuels including biomass,
RDF, plastics and others."

 

This announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the
EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014, as it forms part of United Kingdom
domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as
amended, and has been announced in accordance with the Company's obligations
under Article 17 of that Regulation.

 

ENQUIRIES

 EQTEC plc                                                     +44 203 883 7009
 David Palumbo / Nauman Babar

 Strand Hanson - Nomad & Financial Adviser                     +44 20 7409 3494
 James Harris / Richard Johnson

 Panmure Gordon - Joint Broker                                 +44 207 886 2500
 John Prior / Harriette Johnson

 Canaccord Genuity - Joint Broker                              +44 207 523 8000
 Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio / Patrick Dolaghan

 Alma PR - Financial Media & Investor Relations                +44 203 405 0205
 Josh Royston / Sam Modlin                                     EQTEC@almapr.co.uk (mailto:EQTEC@almapr.co.uk)

 Instinctif - General Media Enquiries                          +44 207 457 2381 / +44 788 788 4794
 Chris Speight / Tim Field                                     EQTEC@instinctif.com (mailto:EQTEC@instinctif.com)

 

About EQTEC's relationship with Université de Lorraine

 

The Company has for 10 years worked in partnership with the Energy from
Biomass and Wastes ("ERBE") team, part of the Laboratoire d'Etudes et de
Recherche sur le Matériau Bois ("LERMAB") at the Université de Lorraine in
Nancy, France to pursue research and development of syngas production based on
EQTEC's advanced gasification technology. The partnership supports both
parties' understanding of a greater range of biomass and waste feedstocks and
a greater range of syngas applications, including generation of electricity
and heat and production of renewable methane and hydrogen.

 

About EQTEC plc

 

As one of the world's most experienced gasification technology and engineering
companies, with a growing track record of delivering operational and
commercial success for transforming waste-to-energy through best-in-class
technology innovation, engineering and project development, EQTEC brings
together design innovation, project delivery discipline and solid commercial
experience to add momentum to the global energy transition. EQTEC's proven,
proprietary and patented technology is at the centre of clean energy projects,
sourcing local waste, championing local businesses, creating local jobs and
supporting the transition to localised, decentralised and resilient energy
systems.

 

EQTEC designs, supplies and builds advanced gasification facilities in the UK,
EU and US, with highly efficient equipment that is modular and scalable from
1MW to 30MW. EQTEC's versatile solutions process over 50 varieties of
feedstock, including forestry wood waste, vegetation and other agricultural
waste from farmers, industrial waste and sludge from factories and municipal
waste, all with no hazardous or toxic emissions. EQTEC's solutions produce a
pure, high-quality synthesis gas ("syngas") that can be used for the widest
range of applications, including the generation of electricity and heat,
production of renewable natural gas (through methanation) or biofuels (through
Fischer-Tropsch, gas-to-liquid processing) and reforming of hydrogen.

 

EQTEC's technology integration capabilities enable the Group to lead
collaborative ecosystems of qualified partners and to build sustainable waste
reduction and green energy infrastructure around the world.

 

The Company is quoted on AIM (ticker: EQT) and the London Stock Exchange has
awarded EQTEC the Green Economy Mark, which recognises listed companies with
50% or more of revenues from environmental/green solutions.

 

Further information on the Company can be found at www.eqtec.com
(http://www.eqtec.com/) .

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