Turning Ethanol Into HYDROGEN

By Luke Geiver

The Proteum-Ethanol Connection

Proteum defines itself as a tech company. “We’ve been heads-down on this since 2014,” Tree says. To produce hydrogen, Tree believes Proteum can use existing assets and feedstock. “There are some extraordinary assets in the ethanol sector,” he says, explaining how impressed his team has become with the ability of ethanol producers and their leading role in carbon capture, utilization and/or sequestration (CCUS).

The approach by Proteum is to partner with ethanol producers or buy ethanol gal- lons directly from them. There are two main business models. The Partner-Customer Tolling model locates a modular system at a partner’s facility. Proteum works with partners to resource feedstock and CO2 sequestration. Proteum would receive a tolling fee and may use excess hydrogen production capacity to produce hydrogen or other designer fuels for third-party customers. Alternatively, in the Build-Own-Operate model, the company would install its system at a location of favorably priced feedstock and CO2 sequestration/utilization. Proteum would source and purchase feedstock, process H2 fuel, along with other designer fuels. CO2 produced dur-