HOUSTON – September 13, 2021 – JERA Americas Inc. (JERA Americas) the US-based subsidiary of global energy leader JERA Co., Inc., has entered into an investment agreement and shareholders’ agreement to invest €15M in Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies GmbH (Hydrogenious LOHC). This investment round was led by JERA Americas with Temasek, Chevron Technology Ventures, and Pavilion Capital as additional investors.
JERA Americas delivers innovative energy solutions to customers through a diversified portfolio of low carbon technologies, renewable generation, fuel, and gas-fired generation, as well as investing in energy technologies.
JERA Americas has the objective of achieving zero carbon emissions by 2050. JERA Americas believes that a key component of this will be the development of low carbon fuels such as hydrogen. Because hydrogen does not emit CO2 when combusted, it is expected to be used as a next-generation fuel for thermal power stations replacing fossil fuels.
“We are moving forward on all fronts to reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Steven C Winn, Chief Executive Officer of JERA Americas. “Our investment in Hydrogenious LOHC is another important step in the development of the low carbon fuel value chain.”
Hydrogenious LOHC is headquartered in Erlangen, Germany. Founded in 2013, it has grown to a market-leading pioneer for Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC). The basic concept is to bind the gaseous hydrogen chemically to the LOHC by hydrogenation. Hydrogenious LOHC uses benzyltoluene as carrier medium, a thermal oil – which provides added safety during transportation. Likewise, the release of the hydrogen from the oil takes place by dehydrogenation. With its proprietary technology and industrial-scaled plants, Hydrogenious LOHC enables flexible, safe, easy and efficient transportation and storage of hydrogen in conventional fuel infrastructure – all within ambient conditions.
The world’s largest LOHC plant is being built by Hydrogenious LOHC in Dormagen, Germany, with commissioning scheduled in 2023. Carriers such as the kind produced by Hydrogenious LOHC are an essential part of making low carbon fuel available to these facilities, and allowing for the production of large-scale, zero carbon reliable energy.
By investing in Hydrogenious LOHC, JERA Americas will strive to acquire knowledge of LOHC technology, a potential game changer as a hydrogen energy carrier, and will support development of LOHC plants in Europe, North America, Asia etc., thereby contributing to establishing hydrogen supply chains globally.
Last month, JERA Americas announced plans to employ hydrogen as a fuel in two power generation facilities in which it has an ownership interest, Linden Cogeneration and Cricket Valley Energy Center.
ABOUT JERA AMERICAS
A subsidiary of Tokyo-based JERA, the company that produces about 30% of all electricity in Japan, JERA Americas is a leading integrated energy provider supporting the Americas’ energy transition in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. Under its “JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050” objective, JERA has been working to eliminate CO2 emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses by 2050. JERA, which stands for Japanese Energy for a New Era, will contribute to the development of a sustainable society, and seek to become a global company that is worthy of the regard of the global energy market and indispensable to the people of the world. https://www.jera.co.jp/english/.
For more information (US): [email protected]
