The production facility in Richmond, California, will supply hydrogen fuel to the transport sector, producing up to 2,400 metric tonnes per year of renewable hydrogen.

The project, targeted for 2024, is expected to divert up to 99 wet tonnes of green and food waste per day from Republic Services’ West Contra Costa Sanitary Landfill into its non-combustion steam/CO2 reforming process.

Raven’s reformation process requires no fresh water, which could prove to be an important element due to drought risks in California.

Diversion of the waste will align with California’s mandates and the company say it could avoid up to 7,200 metric tonnes per year of CO2 emissions from landfill.

Matt Murdock, CEO of Raven, said, “This facility will be the first hydrogen production plant in the world to reduce greenhouse gases, through its process and its product.

“By removing waste from the landfill, it will help reduce methane emissions. Not only will the greater Richmond community benefit from reduced emissions, investments and jobs, it will also see economic benefits as local gas stations have a consistent supply of hydrogen fuel for fuel cell vehicles.”

The facility will be owned by newly formed, Raven SR S1 LLC (Raven SR S1), which will also operate it.

Chevron will hold a 50% equity stake in Raven SR 1, Raven SR a 30% stake, and Hyzon the remaining 20%.

Chevron plans to market its share of the hydrogen in Bay Area and Northern California fuelling stations to aid the transition to zero emission vehicles, while Hyzon will provide refuelling for hydrogen fuel cell trucks at a hydrogen hub in Richmond.

Read more: Hyzon, TC Energy to develop 20 tonne per day hydrogen production hubs across North America.

Parker Meeks, Hyzon President and interim CEO, said, “This marks a significant step in demonstrating the commercial viability of a localised, low-to-negative carbon intensity hydrogen economy.

“Through Hyzon’s partnership with Raven, hydrogen supply can be synchronised with the demand for hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.”

This announcement comes after Hyzon and Raven signed a deal in 2021 to build up to 100 waste-to-hydrogen production hubs across the US.

The hubs are planned to be built at landfills and are expected to power garbage trucks as well as other classes of heavy-duty trucks.

Read more: Hyzon Motors, Raven SR to build 100 waste-to-hydrogen hubs – and they say the green fuel produced will be cost comparable to grey hydrogen

The project will produce at least 60% of its own electricity by upgrading the currently permitted and zoned landfill gas electric generators, further reducing both the current air emissions and the need for grid power for its non-combustion process.

This aligns with Raven’s goal to generate as much of its own power onsite as possible, to reduce reliance on the grid.