Plastic-to-Hydrogen Pyrolysis System PyroGen Launches in Rotterdam: Waste Plastic Becomes Green Hydrogen Below 3 Euros/kg

Plastic-to-Hydrogen Pyrolysis System PyroGen Launches in Rotterdam: Waste Plastic Becomes Green Hydrogen Below 3 Euros/kg

On July 20, 2028, Dutch circular economy technology company Black Bear Carbon announced the commercial launch of its PyroGen plastic pyrolysis hydrogen system at the Port of Rotterdam. The system processes 50 tons of mixed waste plastic daily (including multi-layer composite plastics traditionally difficult to recycle), producing approximately 5 tons of hydrogen and 20 tons of carbon black byproduct through high-temperature pyrolysis that breaks carbon-hydrogen bonds in plastics.

PyroGen's process has three stages: first, waste plastic is pyrolyzed at 400 degrees Celsius into syngas (primarily hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide); then, high-purity hydrogen is separated through pressure swing adsorption; finally, the remaining carbon residue is processed into industrial-grade carbon black. The entire process's carbon emissions are approximately 40% of traditional natural gas-based hydrogen production.

Black Bear Carbon CEO Martijn Lopes Cardozo said: "PyroGen simultaneously solves two problems -- waste plastic disposal and green hydrogen production. For every ton of waste plastic processed, we produce 100 kilograms of hydrogen and 400 kilograms of carbon black, both of which have market value."

PyroGen's hydrogen sells at approximately 2.8 euros/kg, below the current European green hydrogen market average of 4-6 euros/kg. The Port of Rotterdam has signed a long-term hydrogen purchase agreement with Black Bear Carbon for fuel supply to port hydrogen forklifts and tugboats.