Graphene Update: PPI Batteries Delivering Significant Performance Improvements

The work at Proton Power, Inc. (PPI) to develop batteries made with PPI turbostratic graphenes continues to deliver excellent results. 

Since 2020, PPI has been building and testing coin cell batteries where the graphite normally used in Li-ion batteries is replaced with PPI’s proprietary blend of its turbostratic graphenes.

Below is a summary of the achievements to date of PPI batteries compared to their lithium-ion (Li-ion) counterparts:

·      PPI batteries can hold 2x the storage capacity compared to Li-ion batteries.

·      PPI batteries re-charge 30x faster than Li-ion batteries.

·      PPI has built over 3000 coin cell batteries for testing.  Of those, approximately 500 have been tested or are in testing currently, and the “oldest” of those have lasted for more than 2900 charge cycles – compared to 1000 charge cycles that can be delivered over the lifetime of a typical Li-ion battery.

·      Unlike Li-ion batteries that degrade in capacity over time, the capacity of PPI batteries actually increase over time.

In addition, PPI turbostratic graphene batteries are safer than Li-ion batteries.  The fire dangers of Li-ion batteries are well known and have resulted in significant property damage, injuries, and even deaths.  The risk of fires is significantly reduced with PPI batteries, because the PPI turbostratic graphene blend that is used instead of graphite conducts heat 11x faster than the graphite used in Li-ion batteries – which means that heat is dissipated instead of building up inside the battery.

PPI turbostratic graphenes are derived from renewable, sustainable Pro-C® biochar via a proprietary PPI process.  The Pro-C® biochar, in turn, is produced from clean, renewable biomass using PPI pyrolysis units, so the entire process has a very small carbon footprint – approximately 90% less than the environmentally dirty processes used to produce graphite.

The key to all of this is the turbostratic nature of PPI graphenes – which is different from conventional graphenes.  In “normal” graphenes, layers of carbon atoms are stacked vertically in direct alignment, one on top of the other, but in PPI’s turbostratic graphenes, the carbon layers are “twisted” relative to each other.  That small difference in structure makes huge differences in the ability of the turbostratic graphene to conduct and store electricity and in its ability to transfer heat.  That leads to better performance in PPI batteries.

 

Release date: August 8, 2024

Proton Power Partners With Faradyne Power To Produce Graphene-Based Energy Storage Products

In June of 2023, Proton Power, Inc. (PPI) entered into partnership with a consortium of companies headed by Faradyne Power.  Faradyne Power’s mission is to leverage the unique combination of technologies brought by the consortium to provide renewable diesel, turbostratic graphene, and graphene-based energy storage and other applications in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner.  Using PPI technology, it intends to be the principal provider of turbostratic graphene on a global basis and the leader in the creation of new, greener, more efficient, graphene-based solutions for energy storage and other applications.

To accomplish this mission, Faradyne Power formed three subsidiaries: Aurora, Stratic, and Faradyne Products.  Together, these three companies are vertically integrated to take biomass from feedstock to final product.

Aurora is Faradyne’s proprietary biomass processing plant business charged with utilizing PPI’s CHyP® technology to produce renewable diesel fuel and Pro-C® biochar.

Using the Pro-C® biochar produced by Aurora, Stratic converts it into turbostratic graphene products by utilizing additional proprietary PPI technology.

Faradyne Products, in the final step of the process, uses Stratic’s turbostratic graphene products to produce end-use energy storage and other products.

One of the most exciting products currently under development is an energy storage system that contains no lithium or rare earth materials.  The absence of lithium coupled with the high thermal conductivity of turbostratic graphene makes these electricity storage units significantly safer while also doubling the storage capacity and providing 30x faster charging times compared to traditional Li-ion batteries.

For more information on Faradyne Power, visit the website at https://www.faradynepower.com/.

Release date: June, 2023

Proton Power Teams With Low Carbon Emissions Technologies To Tackle Municipal Solid Waste

Release Date: September 12, 2023

Proton Power, Inc. (PPI) has entered a joint venture with CarbonSweep and Loesche Energy Systems under the Low Carbon Emissions Technologies (LC-EMT) brand to offer a clean, efficient, and cost-effective answer to the global waste issue.

One of the greatest challenges facing the world today is the accumulation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) with no or low sustainable disposal options.  As landfills around the globe fill to capacity and beyond, the environmental and economic problems they create for our communities multiply.  Moral and legal obligation to find environmentally acceptable ways to deal with the world’s MSW have put tremendous pressure on the waste industry and local jurisdictions - but it’s not a simple problem to solve.

LC-EMT develops MSW-to-diesel biorefineries on a total turnkey basis, centered around PPI’s fuel production technologies.  By assembling a world-class team to build, own, and operate these biorefineries, LC-EMT guarantees that they will perform as expected and provide unprecedented decarbonization benefits.  LC-EMT’s team also brings the experience and knowledge needed to develop financially viable projects through long-term MSW supply and diesel offtake agreements and the procurement of carbon credits, ensuring predictable returns to investors.  

Dealing with MSW as a feedstock for diesel production is a challenge, giventhe variability in volume and types of waste produced by different communities.  CarbonSweep’s principals have decades of experience in waste management, leading to development of the perfect MSW-derived feedstock for PPI’s fuel production process.  LC-EMT employs a proprietary analyzer technology to measure and monitor the quality of the feedstock to optimize the performance of PPI’s production modules.  In addition, LC-EMT incorporates a proprietary diesel refining technology to bring PPI’s raw diesel into compliance with global ASTM 975 and EN-590 standards.

In sum, LC-EMT is positioned to develop facilities that make the most sense for the needs of communities facing waste accumulation issues around the globe, without disrupting the lives of their residents. The result is a platform of technologies that turns a perpetual problem into a renewable solution – safely, reliably, economically, and sustainably.

More information concerning PPI’s partners in LC-EMT can be found at https://carbonsweep.com and https://www.loesche.com/contact/worldwide/loesche-energy-systems .

Victory Clean Energy To Acquire Rights To Proton Power Hydrogen Business

News item posting date: August 5, 2024 

Victory Clean Energy Enters into Agreement to Acquire Innovative Low-Cost Green Hydrogen Production Technology from Proton Power

Provided by Accesswire

Jul 18, 2024 10:33pm

AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / July 18, 2024 / Victory Clean Energy (OTC:VYEY) ("Victory" or the "Company"), a leading innovator in the green hydrogen energy sector, announced today it has entered into a binding term sheet to acquire the intellectual property and exclusive rights to use the Cellulose to Hydrogen Power ("CHyP Engine") system for hydrogen power from Proton Power, a technology leader in renewable energy systems designed for producing inexpensive hydrogen on demand from biomass and waste sources.

  • The Proton CHyP engine is a solution to the major issues of implementing a green hydrogen economy - specifically: 1) cost 2) distribution and 3) storage.

  • Cost: The Company expects the variable operating cost to be 50% lower than today's typical electrolysis production facility.

  • Distribution and Storage: As the system is modular, Victory will be able to scale hydrogen production adjacent to demand, reducing and/or eliminating need for storage/transportation

  • The entire process is carbon neutral to carbon negative - depending on the application - and does not require electricity from the grid.

  • Produces high quality biochar that can be upgraded to graphene.

  • The production process is extremely energy efficient, utilizing only a fraction of the electricity necessary to produce hydrogen via electrolysis processes.

"Solving climate change, whether through adopting clean vehicles or reducing emissions from manufacturing sites, will require renewable, dependable, and affordable hydrogen," stated Chris Headrick, Founder and Executive Chairman of Victory. "Victory will leverage the CHyP engine to produce low-cost green hydrogen and to deploy a solution that will supply green hydrogen at a cost approaching grey hydrogen in a process that is carbon neutral to negative."

"The CHyP system emerged from Proton Power co-founder, Dr. Sam Weaver's long-running R&D investments in high-temperature materials and manufacturing across multiple energy sectors. Initial testing indicates the CHyP system is expected to comply with all current and foreseeable emissions standards and to have a neutral to negative overall carbon intensity score."

"Our process is a huge improvement over electrolysis as it only uses 2 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, which can be CHyP self-generated, to produce 1 kg of hydrogen," commented Dr. Weaver. "This is an important differentiator versus today's electrolysis processes, which require 50 to 55 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity from the grid or other external source to produce 1 kg of hydrogen. This equates to our projected overall cost per kg of hydrogen below $2 - for greater than or equal to 12 tonnes/day facilities. Importantly, there are revenue enhancement opportunities from selling biochar byproduct of the system to make agricultural and livestock enhancement products as well as high-quality graphene feedstock. The CHyP engine is uniquely placed to accelerate the hydrogen economy."

Jim McGinley, Chief Executive Officer of Victory added, "We are very excited about this transaction and believe it will be a game-changer in the green energy marketplace as we work to continue to improve efficiency and commercialization of this innovative technology through planned initial deployment in 2025." Mr. McGinley continued, "it is increasingly clear that biomass pyrolysis is a critically needed technology in achieving world-wide decarbonization."

The CHyP system will be capable of operating on over 100 different types of biomass, including wood, agriculture waste, and most forms of biomass. The CHyP system can generate energy-rich syngas for electricity and, therefore, is not dependent on the grid to operate.

Victory has already announced plans to build its first commercial facility in California for the Redding Rancheria Tribe in 2025. This is planned to be the first of 32 plants nationwide in partnership with the Redding Rancheria Tribe to provide green hydrogen as part of a nationwide infrastructure for hydrogen transportation. Also, in 2025, Victory also plans to build a 3 tonne per day demonstration facility to supply a green charging station, demonstrating the ability to use hydrogen-rich syngas as part of a true carbon-negative and economical charging solution for electric vehicles. Victory is also exploring other co-location partnerships, including ones in the industrial sectors such as refineries, ammonia, steel, and fertilizer, among others, to leverage this technology for cost savings and emissions reductions.

The transaction is expected to be finalized this month but is subject to board approvals of an exclusive license agreement and asset purchase agreements. The acquisition price of $100 million is structured with payments scheduled over a 5-year period, which will allow Victory to focus on deploying capital toward its commercialization efforts. Victory will acquire the CHyP engine intellectual property, utilize the Proton manufacturing facility in Lenoir City, Tennessee, and become a supplier of biochar for Proton's proprietary graphene manufacturing process.

CHyP Announcement Conference Call

VYEY will host a webcast at 12:00 p.m. EST / 11:00 a.m. CST on Wednesday August 7th, 2024, to discuss the acquisition and technology in greater detail. The live webcast of the call and an archived replay will be available online in the Investor Relations section of Victory's website. Those wishing to participate will find link or dial-in information to be announced in a following release.

About Proton

Founded in 2005, Proton Power, Inc. is the brainchild of Dr. Sam Weaver and Dan Hensley, who have developed a renewable energy system designed for producing inexpensive hydrogen on demand from biomass and waste sources. Dr. Weaver and Hensley have a long, 40+ year history of developing successful and innovative technological products from the ground up, including:

  • Battery technology utilizing Proton's graphene with substantial increases in storage capacity, charge rate and cycle life

  • The highest quality, low-cost graphene

  • Aircraft brakes for commercial and military aircrafts

  • The first 2800C production furnaces for high strength, high modulus carbon fibers

  • Ceramic punch technology and equipment to make the thinnest aluminum beer cans in the world

  • Neutron absorbers for nuclear power plants with 87% worldwide market share

  • Test and research reactor fuel which provided radioisotopes that served 10 million people annually

Today, Dr. Weaver and Hensley lead an experienced management team with extensive engineering and manufacturing experience at Proton Power. Proton Power has a strong physical presence with 4 locations, and more than 95,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space on 58 acres of land.

About Victory Clean Energy

Victory Clean Energy is an innovative Green Hydrogen energy company dedicated to developing and implementing clean, sustainable low-cost energy solutions with applications across various industries, including transportation, power generation, and industrial processes. The Company's pioneering TrueGreen Hydrogen™ production solutions aim to provide clean, reliable, and cost-effective energy sources to a diverse range of clients. TrueGreen Hydrogen™ positions the Company as a formidable force in the low-cost Green Hydrogen sector, focusing on decarbonization in heavy transportation and industrial Hydrogen markets. With this commitment, Victory Clean Energy is dedicated to shaping a sustainable and cleaner future for industries and communities worldwide. Learn more at https://www.victoryclean.energy.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding Victory and its future financial and operational performance, as well as its strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward looking statements. When used in this press release, including any oral statements made in connection therewith, the words "could," "should," "will," "may," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Victory expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements herein, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Victory cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Victory. These risks include, but are not limited to, Victory's ability to disrupt the green hydrogen production market, Victory's focus in 2024 and beyond, the effects of Victory's dynamic and proprietary solutions on its customers, accelerated commercialization of the Proton CHyP system, the ability to meet 2024 and future development milestones, the ability to reduce carbon intensity and greenhouse gas emissions, the expected performance and integration of the CHyP system, and other risks and uncertainties. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Victory's operations and projections can be found in its filings with the SEC. Victory's SEC Filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, and readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in such filings.

For Information Regarding Proton Power or Victory Clean Energy

CONTACT
David Voyticky
Victory Clean Energy
865.776.6203
d.voyticky@h2eg.com

SOURCE: Victory Clean Energy, Inc.

KnoxZine Feature

“From the back lot of the Wampler’s Farm Sausage facility in Lenoir City, TN, Ted Wampler Jr., says a new technology is being tested that could have global implications. It’s called a Cellulose to Hydrogen Power engine (CHyP engine). It has the potential to change the way we create and distribute electricity by generating an incredible amount of power using natural, sustainable fuel.”

Read the KnoxZine article here.

Article and photo by Paul Clouse

Memphis Daily News Feature

“On any given day, business executives, scientists and chemical engineers from across the U.S. and around the world come to East Tennessee to see for themselves the renewable energy technology developed by Lenoir City-based Proton Power…”

The full article on Dr. Sam Weaver and Proton Power in the Saturday, June 13th edition of the Memphis Daily News can be found here.

 

ULSD Milestone

PPI Takes Another Step Toward Synthetic Fuel Commercialization

We are extremely pleased to announce that Proton Power (PPI) has successfully developed a solution to produce synthetic fuels from biomass able to meet the EPA mandated sulfur requirement of less than 15 ppm for Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (USLD).

The process to identify causes for the presence of incidental sulfur in PPI’s renewable diesel fuel – and subsequently implement effective engineering solutions – has been a top R&D priority at the PPI research facilities for a period of a year and a half. PPI can now confirm that the company has proven methods to minimize the concentration of sulfur to below the federally mandated level of 15 parts per million (ppm).

 

2015 Innovator Award Winner

PPI Given Prestigious Award By the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce

On May 9th, The Knoxville Chamber of Commerce hosted its most prestigious event of the year, the Pinnacle Business Awards, to recognize the area’s top companies. The formal event drew nearly 800 attendees, and included a silent auction followed by a dinner and the awards program.

Proton Power was honored by being named this year’s recipient of the Innovator Award. The Innovator Award is given to an East Tennessee business that has developed a new technology, innovative product or service or applied a business system or service in an innovative way. Previous winners include CTI Molecular Imaging (now Siemens Medical Solutions USA), Radio Systems Corporation, UT-Battelle, and Wampler’s Farm Sausage. PPI is very proud to be this year’s Innovator Award recipient and honored to share the title with so many other companies that make this community great.

A Renewable Solution

Proton Power Featured in Caterpillar's Quarterly Run Ready Magazine

The 500kW project at Wampler's Farm Sausage was featured in CAT's Summer 2014 edition of the quarterly publication Run Ready.  The Article can be downloaded at the following link:

http://www.protonpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RunReady-Summer2014-ProtonPower.pdf