New Pathway for Green Hydrogen Economy: Commercial-Scale Production of Renewable Formic Acid Achieved, ISCC PLUS Certification Offers Low-Carbon Solution for Hydrogen Storage & Feed Preservation

Amidst the accelerating global transition to green hydrogen and sustainable chemicals, formic acid—a traditional chemical—is being redefined with new industrial value. Recently, renewable formic acid synthesized from direct air-captured CO₂ and green hydrogen has entered commercial-scale production of tens of thousands of tonnes, achieving International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS. This technology not only transforms formic acid into an efficient liquid organic hydrogen carrier but also provides a 'carbon-negative' or 'carbon-neutral' green alternative for its traditional uses as a feed preservative, tanning agent, and more.

1. Technical Milestone: Green Hydrogen-Carbon Coupling and Low-Pressure Synthesis Process

The breakthrough of this industrialization lies in its use of green electricity to reshape formic acid's synthesis pathway:

1. Carbon Capture and Activation Technology

• Patented Process: Employs modular direct air capture units to obtain the required carbon dioxide, which is catalytically combined with green hydrogen from water electrolysis. The entire process is powered by wind and photovoltaic energy, achieving circular utilization of carbon.

• Low-Pressure, High-Efficiency Synthesis: Utilizes novel heterogeneous catalysts to reduce the pressure of the traditional high-pressure synthesis process (~40 bar) to below 10 bar and the reaction temperature under 80°C. This significantly cuts capital investment and energy consumption, making the green route economically competitive for the first time.

• Through multi-effect distillation combined with molecular sieve adsorption, the final product concentration is enhanced to ≥99.5%, with water content strictly controlled at ≤0.05%. Extremely low water content is crucial for minimizing corrosiveness and maximizing catalyst lifespan in hydrogen carrier applications.

2. Sustainability Certifications and Carbon Footprint Accounting

The environmental attributes of this renewable formic acid are quantified and endorsed by international certifications:

3. Industry Impact: Pioneering New Applications in the Hydrogen Economy and Green Chemicals

Third-party testing validates its transformative potential in two core scenarios:

• Scenario 1: As a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier

• Hydrogen Storage Density: Achieves a gravimetric storage density of 4.3 wt%, enabling safe, liquid-state transportation under ambient conditions, addressing the cost and safety challenges of high-pressure gaseous and cryogenic liquid hydrogen storage.

• Dehydrogenation Efficiency: The efficiency of the supporting low-temperature dehydrogenation catalyst is improved, allowing efficient hydrogen release at 90-120°C, offering a viable solution for decentralized hydrogen refueling stations or backup power.

• Scenario 2: As a Green Substitute in Traditional Fields

• In the silage feed sector, its 'net-zero carbon' attribute can help the livestock industry reduce its carbon footprint, meeting supply chain requirements of major food corporations.

• In the leather industry, it provides a traceable tanning agent with a defined green premium.

Downstream Benefit Assessment: Although current production costs remain higher than traditional formic acid, in hydrogen energy applications, the overall cost of hydrogen use of this route is becoming competitive when factoring in the high costs of hydrogen compression, storage, and safety. In the green premium market, the price premium can reach 15-25%.

4. Corporate Collaboration Case and Pilot Project

A leading European energy group has signed an agreement with the producer to build the world's first "Hydrogen-Power-Chemical" co-production pilot project based on renewable formic acid. The project brief discloses:

"This project will utilize North Sea wind power to produce approximately 50,000 tonnes of renewable formic acid annually. Part of it will be used for local hydrogen mobility, and another part will be exported as a base chemical. This model validates the commercial viability of converting intermittent green electricity into a stable, internationally tradable liquid energy carrier."

To build the initial industry chain, the manufacturer has launched an industry partnership program:

• Joint Application Development: Offers collaborative R&D support to energy companies with dehydrogenation needs or chemical firms seeking green feedstocks.

• Carbon Credit Bundled Sales: Provides purchasers with certified carbon emission reduction documentation to help them achieve Scope 3 emission targets.

• Flexible Supply Chain: Maintains storage tanks at major European chemical ports, offering various delivery methods including flexitanks, ISO TANKs, and bulk shipping.

5. Verifiable Data and Safety Assurance

All claims are based on verifiable data:

• Purity & Impurities: Analysis of concentration, metal ions, and water content follows GB/T 2093 and ASTM E1064 standards.

• Decomposition & Safety: Decomposition products meet safety specifications; acute oral toxicity (rat) LD₅₀ = 1,100 mg/kg, consistent with conventional formic acid. Classified as Skin Corrosion Category 1B under GHS, requiring professional handling.

The commercialization of this renewable formic acid signifies the strategic evolution of formic acid from a basic chemical into an energy carrier and green platform molecule. It innovatively couples carbon capture and utilization, the green hydrogen industry, and traditional chemical manufacturing, not only providing a revolutionary safe pathway for hydrogen storage and transport but also opening up a quantifiable green substitution path for traditionally high-emission applications, establishing itself as a key node in the circular economy.