Nzyme2HCpresentation at LLNL
- 1. Nzyme2HC Company Steve Cardona-Founder/CEO LLNL Investor Forum- September 2014
- 2. End-to-End Biological Hydrogen Production NADP+ NADPH 2H+ H2 NLP Hydrogenase Electrochemical cofactor reduction, Rh-nanocatalysis - Novel in-vitro biological hydrogen production. - Microbial membrane hydrogenase enzyme stabilized, outside cell using LLNL NanoLipoproptein Particle (NLP) technology. -‘Force Multiplier’ (~10-15X production rate) over in-vivo. Overall high yield reaction. - Utilize novel electrochemical flow cell concept to supply electrons to cofactor & NLP-hydrogenase. - No biomass (water/electricity/enzymes/cofactor are essential materials). - No Carbon footprint/completely renewable/”green”. -Low CAPEX -Potential to get to $1-2/kg H2 total production cost at scale. (from aqueous solution/mineral acid)
- 3. Applications/Markets •Global Hydrogen Market=$135B+/yr •Replace/Augment/Compete with SMR (steam methane reforming) H2 creation in petro/chemical/industrial gas plants •Improve/Lower cost for existing chemical production processes (i.e. H2O2) •Small/Local/Autonomous H2 Device for Distributed Solutions •China-Bolster Poor Quality Indigenous Petroleum/Alternative to SMR as very limited Indigenous Natural Gas (NG). •Biological/Microbial Fuel Cell (Coupling Production with Storage). •Generic In Vitro Enzyme Stabilization/ ‘Force Multiplier’ for Industrial enzyme-enabled Products. •Coal-Fired Plants (SO2 ‘eating’ capabilities of Pyrococcus furiosus) •Rubber and Pharma/Vaccines (beyond scope of current LLNL contract)
- 4. Inexpensive Ex vivo Production of Molecular Hydrogen Materials To be confirmed-Projected cost of all materials less than $1.50/kg H2 - Final costs here function of strategic partner agreement with our supplier (in negotiations with (3)). - NLP-Hydrogenase is self- assembling/formed in simple reactor, using lower cost synthetic apolipoprotiens, well-established extrication process - NADP will likely recycle very many times in our reaction - Low cost mineral acid (replenish protons in aqueous solution) - NLP-hydrogenase and cofactor are long-lasting, not consumed, and small quantities necessary as effectively ‘recycled’ Electricity (Current) CAPEX -Much less electricity required than any form electrolysis -No OH bonds broken in cofactor reaction or H2 generation reaction -Minimal voltage required (0.5V) -Access off-peak excess (could be cheap coal-fired, nuclear, overcapacity solar/wind generated---lowest cost is primary goal) -Very low CAPEX estimate= $0.08/kg H2 output -Ambient operating conditions (much less costly than Pressure/Temp of SMR) -Minimal, standard/non- complex equipment necessary for bio-refinery -Includes Rh as fixed/amortized cost (as ‘recycles’)
- 5. SMR vs. Renewable H2 Production •SMR: Pros-Cheap/plentiful NG (many but not all geographies) -Amortized plant infrastructure Cons-CAPEX-intensive -Non-renewable -Pressure/Temp requirements -Dependency on potentially antagonistic countries/leaders for natural gas supply -Non-predictability of NG spot prices (and effects on BP EPS predictability) •Water Electrolysis: Pros-Proven -Ever-improving electrolyzers -Clean/Green -Water as feedstock Cons-Uses very large amounts of electricity -Been around 100+ years yet still cannot compete with SMR on price •En-Vivo Biology (i.e. algae creation H2): -Pros-Sunlight is free -Microbes make hydrogen naturally or can be genetically manipulated to -Microbes are consumers of CO2 Cons-Surface-area centric solution (real estate is very expensive terrestrially and any scale-up in ocean would have huge environmental effects) -The more HC or H2 you make inside the cell wall, the higher probability of killing the organism/production mechanism •In-Vitro Biology (Nzyme2HC/LLNL): Pros-Potentially very high yield H2 -Totally renewable -No dependence on natural gas geopolitical supply issues -Potential to get to $1-2/kg total production cost of H2 at scale -Could be centralized or distributed solution Challenges-We must prove our assumptions and estimates with a funded prototype
- 6. Nzyme2HC Management Team •Steve Cardona-CEO -Funding/Strategic Alliances/DOE Interface/Overall Management -Successful clean tech serial entrepreneur (Co-founder Carbon Micro Battery, now Enevate,-DFJ and Tsing Capital funded, over $30M raised (grants, angel, VC)) -IBM/KPMG/Oracle executive -UCLA-BA Economics, Minor-Biology/USC MBA Finance •Dr. Paul Hoeprich-Chief Scientific Advisor -Research/Design/Develop/Overall Product Development -LLNL Senior Staff Scientist -World-renowned inventor/expert in NLPs (nano lipoprotein particles/membranes) -Will manage the Product Development effort in the lab vs. timeline, budget and deliverables •Dr. Robert Glass -Senior Scientist LLNL (30 years) -Head of Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Program at LLNL -PhD Chemistry/Electrochemistry, University Illinois Champaign Urbana -Responsible for electrical flow cell/electron supply to biological reaction •Dr. Michael P. Thelen -Senior Scientist at LLNL (21 years) -PhD Biochemistry, Cambridge University England -Responsible for growing, harvesting and extricating hydrogenase enzyme •Bill Schank-Chief Technology Advisor -Engineering/Manufacturability -35 years Ford Motor Company-leader hydrogen fuel/EV car projects -Chief Engineer Ballard Hydrogen Fuel Cell -Ran US Advanced Battery Consortium for 7 years •Michael McGrath-Finance/Accounting: -President Financial Advocates - Former KPMG executive
- 7. From Science to Geopolitics (Source:moneymorning.com.au) -Although the US has plentiful cheap fracked natural gas to create hydrogen from SMR. -Putin’s recent saber-rattling regarding pulling European and Chinese NG supplies has caused many countries and companies to start looking for cost-effective alternatives to steam methane reforming.
- 8. Investment Terms •Total Cap Req 24 months=$2.6M/Possible $600K ‘build only’ 6 mos initial tranche •Usage of Funds: Build bench prototype, integrate components, test, optimize. •The product development portion of the funds will pass through Nzyme2HC to LLNL as sponsored agreement