Cemex has announced plans to install plasma-based hydrogen production technology at industrial-scale at its cement manufacturing plant in Rugby, UK. The company said that it will initially deploy the technology supplied by HiiROC at this facility as part of its plans to cut CO2 emissions. This follows the earlier introduction starting in 2021 of hydrogen technology to all of its European plants as part of a $40m investment programme. The hydrogen was typically used to enhance cement kiln combustion processes.

The company’s investment arm, Cemex Ventures, has made two key investments into HiiROC, a UK hydrogen technology start-up, as it looks to expand its use of hydrogen. HiiROC claims its Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) technology uses just one-fifth of the electricity energy used in water electrolysis and can deliver solid carbon black for use in other applications. The process uses 50kW ‘plasma torches’ to split hydrogen and carbon from high-pressure feedstocks such as methane and flare gas. The gases are then ‘quenched’ in a reaction chamber before separation and refinement in a third chamber. HiiROC’s modular solution can be deployed as single units to full-scale industrial plants.

The hydrogen produced is described as being able to be used as an alternative energy source to fuel clinker production processes. HiiROC has already raised over £40m from investors including Melrose, Wintershall Dea, Centrica, HydrogenOne, Hyundai, Cemex, and Kia. 

“This deployment with Cemex marks a significant development in the use of HiiROC’s technology and another milestone in the rollout and production of affordable, clean and scalable production units for a hard-to-decarbonise industry,” said Tim Davies, co-founder and CEO of HiiROC.

Earlier this month, HiiROC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Siemens to use its control technology and automation capacity to boost hydrogen production from its TPE technology.