ENEOS opens Direct MCH large-scale demonstration plant in Brisbane
Japanese company ENEOS Corporation (ENEOS) has announced it has constructed a large-scale demonstration plant in Brisbane, to produce methylcyclohexane (MCH), a hydrogen carrier, using its proprietary low-cost ‘electrochemical synthesis of organic hydride’ method known as Direct MCH. MCH is a liquid hydrogen carrier that can store hydrogen at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure at approximately 1/500 of the volume of hydrogen gas. Following trial operations, demonstration operations are scheduled to commence in January 2027.
The demonstration project aims to obtain the technical knowledge required for the commercialisation of Direct MCH technology, supporting the future development of large-scale green hydrogen supply chains. Green hydrogen produced from renewable energy is expected to play a key role in achieving a carbon-neutral society; however, reducing production and transportation costs remains a significant challenge.
ENEOS is working to lower the overall cost of the green hydrogen supply chain by utilising Direct MCH technology, which enables the direct, single-step synthesis of MCH.
ENEOS has steadily advanced the development of Direct MCH technology and has now developed a 1.2 MW-class electrolyser, representing the minimum unit size for commercial deployment. The demonstration plant will utilise an electrolyser approximately eight times larger than the unit deployed in a previous demonstration conducted in 2023 and is designed to achieve a maximum MCH production capacity of nine tons per day. Demonstration operations are expected to continue for approximately two years. Through demonstration operations, ENEOS will evaluate performance, degradation behaviour and other operational characteristics while collecting data necessary for commercialisation.
The project is being conducted as part of the Green Innovation Fund Project commissioned by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
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