HYSTEP
Transforming waste water into a driving force for energy transition
Benefits
- Valorisation of biomass
- Low-cost production of decarbonised H2
Key words
- Power-to-gas
- Energy transition
- Bioprocesses
Intellectual Property
- 1 patent
Partnerships & Rewards
- 2019 French Innovation Competition Winner
- Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Laboratory
- LEPMI
Institutions
- CNRS
- GRENOBLE INP
- UGA
- USMB
Linksium Continuum
- Maturation
- Incubation
Context
Hydrogen is an attractive solution to meet the challenge of energy transition. Its decarbonised production is a major challenge for the development of the sector. At the same time, the cost of treating waste water encourages operators to find ways to add value.
Technology
The HYSTEP technology allows the coupling of two desynchronised processes:
- a microbial battery for the degradation of organic substances and its valorisation in chemical form
- a decoupled electrolyser for the production of hydrogen at 1V.
Advantages
The technology provides a yield of 90% in the storage and reinjection of electricity using hydrogen (power to gas to power). Likewise, the valorisation of the biomass contained in waste water makes it possible to improve the profitability and efficiency of the treatment facilities.
State of progress
Validated on the laboratory scale, the development of a large-scale prototype installation is currently under study, together with the mediator cycle.
Applications
The HYSTEP technology is an outlet for the valorisation of waste water in the smaller STEPs (<10000EH) or the agrifood industry. It enables the development of a decentralised hydrogen production to meet the widespread needs of industry. It offers profitability for the storage/reinjection of the electricity produced by intermittent renewable energies.
