Southern Company Gas, Electro-Active Technologies and T2M Global announce collaborative project to accelerate progress in clean hydrogen

Project will be supported by funds awarded to Southern Company research and development from U.S. Department of Energy

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Aug 03, 2021, 10:00 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 3, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A collaborative project between Southern Company Gas, Electro-Active Technologies and T2M Global to advance a technology for production of clean hydrogen from waste has been selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The DOE awarded Southern Company research and development $1 million for the project to advance next-generation clean hydrogen technologies and support its recently announced Hydrogen Energy EarthShot initiative, which aims to reduce the cost of and accelerate breakthroughs in the clean hydrogen sector. The project seeks to de-risk, develop and demonstrate high-efficiency, low-cost renewable hydrogen generation for use in transportation and distributed energy applications. Its long-term goal is to remove barriers to commercialization of this clean, renewable fuel.

"Southern Company is committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its enterprise-wide operations, including Southern Company Gas, by 2050," said Robin Lanier, renewable gas director for Southern Company Gas. "Having a diverse portfolio of clean fuels is key, and we see great potential in hydrogen technologies. We are excited for this opportunity to work with our partners and the DOE in advancing the wet waste-to-clean hydrogen pathway and to help bring the hydrogen economy to reality."

The project's approach targets distributed generation of hydrogen from food waste, diverting the waste from landfills and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions from the food value chain and the transportation sector. The solution will offer waste generators an advanced option to divert large volumes of food waste from landfills and comply with local regulations. The technology is based on use of biology and electrochemistry to break down food waste into electrons and protons and their combination at the cathode to produce hydrogen via small external voltage.

"This project provides a unique opportunity to highlight the feasibility of generating meaningful amounts of hydrogen and a practical means to offset more carbon-intensive fuels," said Abhijeet Borole, Ph.D., co-founder and president of Electro-Active Technologies Inc. "As the movement toward the hydrogen vector is gaining speed, demand for all sources of hydrogen is increasing. However, developing pathways to clean hydrogen is critical. Funding from DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office is making this possible. Further, the Biden Administration's focus on hydrogen as the first EarthShot illustrates the need to get to a low-cost, clean hydrogen within a decade."

Southern Company Gas will lead the project – titled 'Novel Microbial Electrolysis System for Conversion of Biowastes into Low-Cost Renewable Hydrogen' – based on core technology from Electro-Active Technologies, an early-stage startup creating waste-to-value solutions. T2M Global will support investigations into end-use applications, including fuel cell testing. This project will support Electro-Active Technologies' efforts in demonstrating the waste-to-hydrogen technology at pilot scale in collaboration with its partners.

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America's premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and approximately 666,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.

About Electro-Active Technologies Inc
Electro-Active Technologies was launched less than 4 years ago to develop circular solutions for the bioeconomy and create cleaner, brighter solutions for all. It is headquartered in Knoxville, TN but works from coast to coast in advancing decarbonization solutions for the energy and food sector. It is developing a modular, scalable system for on-site, distributed management of organic waste and generation of clean fuels. For more information, visit electroactive.tech.

SOURCE Southern Company