Hydrogen Central reports that Linde Engineering committed to work with London-listed Powerhouse Energy and its EU partner Hydrogen Utopia (HUI) to use its technology to convert plastic to hydrogen in a deal struck at COP26. For the next five years, Linde will provide exclusive hydrogen processing services produced at HUI's plants across Europe. A number of factories are already in the works, with the first set to open in the Polish city of Konin by the end of next year, followed by Bulgaria and Greece, an article by Hydrogen Central asserts. There are also plans for locations in the United Kingdom, with the first set to open in the Northwest in two years and another in Scotland to follow. At least 500 jobs are planned to be created in 50 facilities as a result of the proposals.

"We look forward to HUI and Linde's collaboration using Powerhouse technology to speed Poland's transition to renewable energy," said James Greenstreet, chairman of Powerhouse Energy Group.

“HUI is fighting for our technology across Europe and potentially the world – and helping to provide a global solution for plastic waste.”

“Producing hydrogen from end-of-life plastic would help tackle an environmental concern while also promoting decentralized hydrogen usage,” stated Harald Ranke, CEO of Selas-Linde.

Powerhouse Energy's concept involves heating plastic to extremely high temperatures to create synthetic gas, or syngas, which can subsequently be processed to produce power and hydrogen.

Tyre & Rubber Recycling – a British magazine focused on the industry – says it visited Powerhouse's DMG experimental facility in Cheshire a few years ago, and there were expectations of pyrolysing end-of-life tires or plastics at 1000 degrees to create hydrogen at the time.

The magazine adds that as the market for hydrogen opens up, that pilot plant has been built up and proved, and as a result, forward-thinking operators are realizing the potential. Of course, pyrolyzing polymer waste has a significant double benefit in that it begins to address the massive problem of plastic and end-of-life tire waste, which will be with us for decades.

Article by Hydrogen Central.