VNG Innovation and Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures invest in UK start-up HiiROC

VNG Innovation GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of VNG AG and Wintershall Dea Technology Ventures GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wintershall Dea GmbH, which both specializes in strategic cooperation and investments with start-ups from the energy industry have acquired shares in the British startup HiiROC in October 2020. The company, based in Hull, England, is creating transformational technology for low-cost, zero-emission hydrogen generation from natural gas or bio-natural gas for power generation, industry, and transport including aviation. This technology was presented by the start-up on 25 March 2021 at the ATI Boeing Accelerator 2021 Demo Day. The ATI Boeing Accelerator is a 3 month-long programme. It is intended to support innovation and the growth of startups in the UK's aerospace ecosystem.

VNG Innovation GmbH sees a lot of potential at HiiROC. “We are delighted to be involved in another innovative start-up, HiiROC. HiiROC has developed a methane pyrolysis process that is much more efficient and effective than conventional processes. The technology can be a real game changer for the production costs of hydrogen,” explain Dr. Matthias Tischner and Andreas Päts, managing directors of VNG Innovation GmbH.

The hydrogen obtained can be used as a clean, CO2-free energy carrier, while the carbon (black carbon) deposited in solid form in the production process can be used as a raw material in industry, for example for the production of tires, plastic, rubber or similar products. In contrast to other pyrolysis technologies, the process can also be used on a smaller scale and can therefore also be used decentrally, e.g. directly in the house. “With this investment, we would primarily like to gain experience in the consumption-oriented production and marketing of climate-friendly hydrogen and learn how to deal with solid carbon or carbon dioxide,” adds Päts. HiiROC enables the new partnership to test its process, which has been developed on a laboratory scale, on a larger scale and to achieve possible scaling effects.