Did you catch wind of this? Hydrogen, the emerging fuel, is set to unlock a potential $2.5 trillion market by 2050, representing an unparalleled energy powerhouse with limitless possibilities. This energy source has been gaining particular significance, especially within the construction industry.
In our most recent move, we’ve amplified our investment in the cutting-edge clean hydrogen technology startup, HiiROC, one of the Top 50 2021 Contech Startups and Green Construction startups in our investment portfolio. This milestone seeks to increase the adoption of alternative energy fuels in the construction industry and positions Cemex as leader in the use of hydrogen in the cement sector.
Let’s explore our strategic investment in the disruptive cleantech startup and explore what’s next for Cemex and HiiROC.
Let’s take a deeper dive!
Update: Cemex kickstarts first-of-a-kind low-carbon hydrogen project in the cement industry with HiiROC
20/11/2024 – The construction giant, Cemex, has announced the initial industrial-scale deployment of hydrogen with HiiROC, the breakthrough startup with a modular approach and a novel process for low-cost, zero CO2 emission clean hydrogen production, at its Rugby (United Kingdom) cement plant. Hydrogen is one of the low-carbon vectors of the construction industry’s decarbonization roadmap, a powerhouse energy solution with great potential to reduce the use of fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions.
This venture marks a significant milestone for Cemex, as it represents the beginning of a large-scale strategic project plan with the aim to further lower its carbon emissions in cement production.
This milestone is part of a long-running strategic partnership between Cemex & HiiROC, which began in 2021. For more on this collaboration, read more below!
What – does HiiROC do?
HiiROC has developed a novel process for low-cost, zero CO2 emission hydrogen production. The startup produces hydrogen through its proprietary process: Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE).
HiiROC’s hydrogen production process mitigates the drawbacks of steam methane reforming (which results in CO2 emissions) and water electrolysis (which loses the original input power).
Its TPE Technology is as cost-effective as steam methane reforming but without the need for CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage). Additionally, it consumes a fraction of the energy and costs associated with water electrolysis. Furthermore, the process generates a valuable and emission-free co-product called carbon black, usable in numerous industrial applications.
Why – has Cemex increased its stake in HiiROC?
Cemex Ventures, the open innovation arm of Cemex, seeks to establish partnerships and make strategic investments in promising startups that offer innovative technologies and business models that improve efficiency, processes, and operations, but that also adhere to the company’s ambitious climate and sustainability goals.
This strategic collaboration underscores a mutually advantageous scenario for both: Cemex and HiiROC.
Through Cemex Ventures, Cemex made its inaugural investment in HiiROC in 2021 with the aim to increase hydrogen injection capacity throughout Cemex’s cement operations, concurrently reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. Fast forward just over 18 months, and Cemex, in collaboration with HiiROC, is gearing up for an extensive implementation of the startup’s thermal plasma technology. The focal point of this deployment will be Cemex’s pivotal cement plant in Rugby, United Kingdom, with immediate plans to extend HiiROC’s innovative technology across its EMEA operations in the medium run, expanding their involvement with the startup.
So, let’s dive just a little bit deeper…
How – will HiiROC and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives?
Thanks to HiiROC’s clean hydrogen technology, potential benefits emerge for the greater cement sector, such as reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and CO2 emissions. Cemex, by investing in and partnering with this sustainable solution, intends to scale hydrogen injection in its cement kilns and elevate the substitution rate of fossil fuels.
This collaboration propels Cemex towards achieving the net-zero CO2 status by 2050, as outlined in its Future in Action sustainability program.
However, the benefits of this partnership are mutual. This agreement seeks to help HiiROC with the following:
Increased financial investment: The startup secures additional capital essential for its ongoing development.
Supply for one of the world’s largest materials companies: HiiROC becomes a supplier for a major player in the building materials industry, expanding its networking opportunities and leading strategic opportunities.
Expertise and specialized knowledge: Acceleration of its learning curve and enhanced market positioning.
Who – is HiiROC?
Founded in 2019, HiiROC is a UK-based startup with an innovative hydrogen solution that enables the transition to a ‘Hydrogen Economy’. Its co-founders include Tim Davies (Founder and CEO), Ate Wiekamp (Founder and CSO) and Simon Morris (Founder and CCO).
The foundation of this startup solution rests on five key pillars:
- World leading: Revolutionary tech for carbon-free hydrogen.
- Versatile: Applicable across various sectors, including power generation, blending, and industrial decarbonization
- Economical: Cost-effective like SMR, no need for CCUS, and significantly lower energy/cost compared to water electrolysis.
- Efficient: Centralized or local production reduces costs for transportation, storage, and compression.
- Scalable: From small modular units (hundreds of kg/day) up to industrial scale solutions (hundreds of tons/day).
Contact us!
Whether you are a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just want to find out more, we encourage you to contact us through our website or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Press release
Cemex kickstarts first-of-a-kind low-carbon hydrogen project using thermal plasma electrolysis in cement production
Madrid, Spain. November 20, 2024. Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, announced today an initial hydrogen deployment at industrial scale with HiiROC, the pioneering British hydrogen company that produces affordable, clean hydrogen, at its Rugby cement plant in the United Kingdom. Hydrogen has emerged as a low-carbon energy source within the construction industry’s decarbonization roadmap and offers potential as an energy solution to help reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions. This venture marks a significant milestone for Cemex, as it represents the beginning of a large-scale strategic project plan with the aim to further lower its carbon emissions in cement production.
HiiROC produces carbon-neutral hydrogen using its proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) process, which requires just one-fifth of the electrical energy used in water electrolysis and captures carbon as a solid byproduct, avoiding CO2 emissions – a game-changer for the industry. HiiROC’s modular solution can be deployed as single units to full-scale industrial plants. The hydrogen produced can be used as an alternative energy source to fuel clinker production processes, helping Cemex to achieve its decarbonization goals.
“Our investment into this breakthrough project with HiiROC reinforces Cemex’s commitment to transform the industry by working hand in hand with disruptive startups and new technologies,” said Gonzalo Galindo, Head of Cemex Ventures. “Hydrogen as an alternative source of energy has the capacity to significantly reduce the CO2 emissions produced in our operations, aligning with our 2050 goal to become a net-zero CO2 company and be industry leaders in the industrial use of hydrogen.”
“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-decarbonize industry,” said Tim Davies, HiiROC’s Co-Founder and CEO.
This milestone is part of a longer-running strategic partnership between Cemex and HiiROC, which began in 2021 with an initial investment through Cemex’s corporate venture capital arm. Two years later, in 2023, the construction giant increased its stake in HiiROC to expand its hydrogen capacity at its pivotal cement plant in Rugby, United Kingdom.
This project is part of the roadmap for Future in Action, Cemex’s sustainability and decarbonization program, with the primary objective of becoming a net-zero CO2 company by 2050. Through Future in Action, Cemex has achieved company record-breaking progress in reducing its carbon footprint since its launch in 2020.
About HiiROC
HiiROC is a pioneering British hydrogen company dedicated to accelerating Net Zero by transforming the future of clean hydrogen. HiiROC’s proprietary process – Thermal Plasma Electrolysis –makes clean, affordable hydrogen using only one-fifth of the electricity required by water electrolysis while producing no carbon dioxide – an industry game-changer.
Founded in 2019, HiiROC has quickly established itself as a leader in the clean hydrogen technology, with development facilities in Hull and a research lab in Europe. The company has raised over £40mn from investors including Melrose, Wintershall Dea, Centrica, HydrogenOne, Hyundai, Cemex, and Kia. The versatile technology is being demonstrated in 2024 through projects and partnerships across the spectrum of hydrogen use cases, from industrial decarbonization to energy management to transportation.
About Cemex Ventures
Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com
About Cemex
Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com
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