Bill Gates visited the startup Modern Hydrogen in Woodinville, Washington, and had the opportunity to fill a pothole in the parking lot with asphalt that sequesters carbon captured from natural gas. Modern Hydrogen is a climate tech startup that has developed a device for cracking natural gas molecules to produce hydrogen fuel and carbon black with various industrial applications. Gates was hands-on during his visit, taking part in demonstrations of the company’s methane pyrolysis reactor that produces pure hydrogen fuel from natural gas or biogas.
Modern Hydrogen has recently deployed demo reactors to customers, such as Portland’s NW Natural and an unnamed customer in Miami. The startup has also moved to a new facility in Woodinville and is developing a second-generation, larger version of the reactor. Originally known as Modern Electron, the company was founded in 2015 at Intellectual Ventures, with backing from Gates. Gates has been a founding investor in the company and has visited over the years to learn about the technology, which has transitioned from capturing wasted heat to producing hydrogen fuel.
Gates has been a supporter of hydrogen fuel and touts it as a “Swiss Army knife” of clean energy due to its versatile applications. However, hydrogen fuel presents challenges such as high transportation costs, making it beneficial to produce and use it at the same location. Modern Hydrogen’s reactors are small enough to be placed where the fuel is needed and are self-powered, with a quarter of the hydrogen produced being recycled back into the system. The company also found a valuable application for the carbon black produced in asphalt, reducing climate impacts and saving money in the process.
Modern Hydrogen has raised $100 million in venture capital and has a team of 60 employees. The company is tapping into the massive asphalt binder market with their carbon black product. In Washington, there are other hydrogen fuel initiatives underway, with the Pacific Northwest selected as one of seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs by the U.S. Department of Energy. These hubs aim to jump-start the hydrogen fuel sector and are eligible for significant federal funding to support their efforts.
Overall, Modern Hydrogen is at the forefront of innovative clean energy solutions, with a focus on producing hydrogen fuel and utilizing carbon black in asphalt to reduce environmental impacts. With backing from investors like Bill Gates and a growing team of experts, the company is poised to make a significant impact in the transition to sustainable energy sources. Gates’ visit to the company highlights his interest in supporting breakthrough technologies that have the potential to combat climate change and drive positive change in the energy industry.
