Chevron invests in waste-to-hydrogen startup in California

Chevron and other partners said they are investing in a startup to build modular waste-to-green hydrogen and renewable synthetic fuel facilities in northern California with tentative plans to eventually grow worldwide.

The $20 million investment in Wyoming-based Raven SR is focused on technology to develop combustion-free, green hydrogen for transportation that is cleaner than so-called blue hydrogen derived from natural gas.

Unlike alternative approaches to waste disposal, such as incineration or gasification, Raven touts a steam and carbon dioxide reformation process that does not involve any combustion, purportedly reducing emissions and producing more green hydrogen per ton of waste than competing processes.

The goal also is to utilize the technology to produce more synthetic liquid fuels, including diesel and jet fuel, as well as other additives and solvents, such as naphtha, and even some electricity via microturbines. Further decarbonizing the production of jet fuel is a key goal, Raven said, to help combat climate change.

"We're excited to start working with our partners on realizing our global vision of zero-emission transportation, on land and in the skies, through locally sourced and produced renewable fuels, while reducing waste in our landfills and their accompanying emissions," said Raven CEO Matt Murdock in a statement.

Other project partners include New York-based Hyzon Motors, Japan's Itochu Corp. and the Ascent Hydrogen Fund. Hyzon, which focuses on hydrogen fuel cell-powered commercial vehicles, and Raven plan to build up to 250 hydrogen production facilities worldwide.

But the first facilities with Chevron and the partners will be in the San Francisco area.

"Our investment with Raven SR underscores our commitment to help develop a commercially viable hydrogen value chain that can provide lower carbon energy solutions to a variety of sectors," said Alice Flesher, Chevron general manager of strategy and planning. "This is an exciting opportunity to develop green hydrogen technology with partners in the Bay Area that can complement our existing hydrogen infrastructure at Chevron Richmond [refinery]."

The plan is for the first renewable fuel production facilities to be built at landfills to produce fuel for northern California hydrogen fuel stations and for Hyzon's hydrogen hubs. The initial facilities are expected to process about 200 tons/d of organic waste, yielding green hydrogen and producing on-site energy for operations. Raven units are modular and can easily be expanded to accommodate sites with higher hydrogen requirements, the company said.