Cefmof targets green hydrogen-based methane with €1.5m Reduciner investment

Non-profit-owned hydrogen developer the Central Finland Mobility Foundation (Cefmof) will invest €1.5m ($1.7m) into syngas start-up Reduciner, with plans to launch green hydrogen-based methane production in 2027.

The pair plan to set up a pilot using Reduciner’s technology to synthesise biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen into synthetic methane (e-methane).

Details on the prospective plant remain slim. However, CO2 used in the pilot will be captured from local biogas production.

It follows Reduciner raising €3.6m ($4.1m) for the CO2-to-fuel pilot, before Cefmof brought its capital and hydrogen supply into the picture.

E-methane is chemically identical to fossil-sourced methane and is billed by many as a potential cleaner bridging fuel that can use existing gas pipeline and storage infrastructure.

When produced with renewable fuels of non-biological origin hydrogen, it is eligible to meet transport quotas under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) III.

Gas trade Avanca recently inked two offtake deals for e-methane volumes from Finnish projects for use by German truck fleets to meet RED III quotas.

Lauri Perämäki, Managing Director of Cefmof, called the collaboration a “first concrete step” in exploring the use of hydrogen with captured CO2.

“Alongside the development of hydrogen production and infrastructure, we need concrete applications where hydrogen can create new value,” she added.

In March, Cefmof began installing a 1MW alkaline electrolyser at its hydrogen refuelling station in Jyväskylä, intended to fuel Finland’s first hydrogen buses introduced through a Cefmof-led pilot.