Virent's patented BioForming process cost-effectively produces hydrogen from a range of biomass-derived feedstocks, including glycerol and sugars.  The novel heterogeneous catalyst used by the BioForming process operates in the aqueous phase with high hydrogen selectivity at low temperature.  This results in a simple one-step process that reforms water soluble oxygenated hydrocarbons into an easily purified hydrogen gas stream. 

Over the past year Virent has made substantial progress in the commercialization of the BioForming process.  Relevant milestones include:

1)    Start-up and operation of a 10 kg/day hydrogen pilot plant.

2)    Integration of a Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) system into the pilot plant.

3)    Initiated a five year joint development agreement with Shell Hydrogen for the development and commercialization of a forecourt hydrogen system using the BioForming process.

This presentation will provide a brief introduction to Virent's BioForming process, summarize recent data collected from Virent's pilot plants and discuss the progress of Virent's commercialization efforts.  In addition, the market opportunities and challenges associated with the commercialization of renewable hydrogen production from biomass will be covered.  With respect to commercialization, a key component of the Virent's strategy is the recently announced collaboration with Shell Hydrogen.  The benefits of this industry collaboration with respect to the development and commercialization of the BioForming process for the production of renewable hydrogen will also be discussed.