Empire Diversified Energy and Heartland Water Technology have formed a new partnership with Empire Green Generation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire, to develop a state-of-the-art facility that will convert food waste into renewable hydrogen and carbon as part of the Department of Energy’s Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), according to a news release.
The project incorporates several essential technical steps into a cohesive, unified process. First, food waste is treated in an anaerobic digester, producing biogas and residual solid material (digestate). Heartland’s proprietary HelioStorm™ ultra-high temperature ionic gasifier performs methane pyrolysis of the biogas to produce clean hydrogen and valuable sustainable carbon. The digestate is processed through Heartland’s proprietary LTC Dry™ and HelioStorm™ gasifiers in a parallel pathway to produce an ultra-pure, tar-free synthesis gas. This gas is then used to generate clean energy, powering the entire conversion system described, and reducing reliance on the grid and fossil fuels.
“The project not only aligns with our vision to redefine waste, it underscores the critical role of renewable hydrogen in shaping a sustainable, circular economy. Hydrogen is more than an energy carrier; it represents a cornerstone for future sustainability goals, offering a path to decarbonize industries and energize communities in an environmentally responsible manner,” said Chris Beaufait, CEO of Heartland. “Empire is a world class developer of sustainable projects. We are excited to work together to deliver an exciting and impactful waste treatment and hydrogen generation plant.”
Bernard Brown, Empire COO, added, “The ARCH2 hydrogen hub is a beacon of innovation and leadership in the renewable energy sector. By leveraging this hub as a pivotal platform for collaboration, research, and development, we aim to demonstrate how strategic investments in decentralized hydrogen infrastructure and technology can yield significant environmental and economic benefits. The integration of Heartland’s HelioStorm™ technology into the project is a game-changer, harnessing groundbreakingly efficient methods to convert food waste into renewable hydrogen, propelling us toward our hydrogen goals.”
The food waste to energy project is expected to begin operations in Q3 2025.
