Mote lands $1.2M grant for second biomass-to-hydrogen plant

In California, Mote Inc. has received $1.2 million in grant funding from the US Forest Service, the California Department of Conservation, and the California Department of Forestry (CAL FIRE) to establish its second biomass to hydrogen and carbon sequestration plant in partnership with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD). As Mote’s hydrogen offtake partner for the second facility in Sacramento, SMUD and Mote have been collaborating on the project development. Upon completion, the facility would produce approximately 21,000 metric tons per year (MTPY) of carbon-negative hydrogen for use in thermal power generation and transportation.

The plant would also sequester over 450,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, equal to the CO2 emissions of over 100,000 cars each year. The project is supported by forestry stakeholders due to Mote’s capacity to create value from large amounts of wood waste. The project can utilize up to 300,000 MTPY of forest residues and wood waste from regional forest management programs, such as those in the Sierra Nevadas. This waste would otherwise be open-air burned, left to decompose, or sent to a landfill.