MMM Group is a 75-year-old Spanish manufacturing company. The company is focused on 3 lines of business systems: energy, fluid and 3DP. Focused on the evolution of the automotive and the clean energy sector, MMM Group is dedicated to the development of new technological solutions for the energy transition that would lead to a decarbonized society.
How has your perspective on the green energy sector evolved over the years? What motivates you to continue innovating in the green energy sector?
Jordi Priu : Our Group bet on the green sector more than three years ago by creating a division for new projects based mainly but not exclusively on capture of CO₂ and new technologies to contribute to decarbonization through different available vectors as Hydrogen, Methanol, etc.
Green technologies constitute a vital point within the agendas of various countries and are part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set by the UN. Currently, the green technologies that everyone talks about are- vertical agriculture, CO₂ capture, ecological buildings, electrification of mobility, biofuels, waste electricity generators.
The need for green energy is not accompanied by the maturity of technology and the large levels of investment. The current regulation does not help to facilitate a controlled transition from one economy to the other, since the demands result in wanting to quickly implement clean energy without drawing up a plan for the gradual introduction of said technologies. The introduction of these technologies is much slower than the worst forecasts.
MMM Group’s energy division – named ‘VIVER CLEANTECH,’ is developing the search, financing and development of solutions that are aligned with two basic pillars – an affordable and alternative energy related to Hydrogen and CO₂ capture technologies.
What role does Methanol Reformer play in MMM Group’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship?
Jordi Priu : Methanol Reformer is a company with a mature technology, with a disruptive solution and with an evolution and adaptability of the solution that makes it valid both at the foreign market level and for its own internal uses.
At MMM automotive division, we have brazing ovens that consume H2, this H2 is not a green one but a Grey one and till now were supplied in compressed H2 from industrial gas companies.
One of our main projects is to implement in the Automotive division our system to generate hydrogen on demand, reducing the footprint in our industrial process, being more sustainable and saving cash to generate only the Hydrogen that is required in our system at a competitive price comparing with the current prices of a 1 Kg of Hydrogen.
What strategies are being employed to increase the adoption of your green hydrogen solutions in traditional industries?
Jordi Priu : Introducing a new solution in traditional industries is a big challenge. You must validate your solution (from technical economical point of view), as well to prove the added value compared with alternative solutions. That means that your selling process is not quick, you need time and resources.
The penetration strategies of green hydrogen technologies in traditional industries are not simple due to great barriers to the adoption of new technologies. Some of these barriers are the lack of knowledge about the technology, high operational costs, intensive CAPEX, lack of budgets and a regulatory framework adapted to the needs of companies.
When talking about Green Hydrogen, people tend to identify the generation of green Hydrogen with electrolyzer technology, regardless of the type of electrolyzer, when there really are alternative technologies that can help us accelerate an adequate transition towards total decarbonization.
M Reformer has defined the marketing strategy to make customers aware of the technology through specific congresses in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell sector,
conferences related to the sector that you want to attack, publications of events and new products through digital platforms, direct contacts with the people responsible for innovation or more sustainable alternative systems of companies with investment potential as well as prescribers with extensive knowledge of the players in the various countries and a very good connection with governments to seek public-private synergies.
Sustainability and reducing carbon footprints are central to combating climate change. How does Methanol Reformer’s technology contribute to lowering greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional hydrogen production methods?
Jordi Priu : First of all, the concept of “generate the energy where you consume it” means that you reduce a lot the logistics related emissions.
Our H2 generator system is generating H2 on demand from a mix of methanol and water, the main part of this technology is that the reformer is able to work with any kind of methanol so using: E-methanol or Green Methanol, our systems are contributing to lowering greenhouse gas emissions in two different ways, generating Hydrogen on demand so we are saving 15,03 Tn of CO₂ because one truck of methanol is equivalent of 12 trucks of compressed Hydrogen and using as a main source the E-methanol (produced using the capture of CO₂), our system is not only being Zero Net but also the system is absorbing a 30 % of the CO₂ from the E-Methanol used in different internal processes.
One of the unique selling points of Methanol Reformer is its on-site and on-demand hydrogen generation. How do your on-site hydrogen generators work in practical applications, such as in industrial, commercial, or mobile settings?
Jordi Priu : Through our containerized solutions we can provide H2 and/or electricity generation where is needed, independent from the grid, you just need to receive methanol and water as a feedstock and our system is designed to provide in seconds Hydrogen or Electricity so from the point of view of industrial application, any need of the Hydrogen could be replaced or complemented by our system providing a really competitive price of Hydrogen comparing with the current prices on market and as a backup energy system our solution is fitting perfectly due to the fact that methanol is using the same infrastructure that the ones available for diesel generators.
One practical application of the reformer to provide Hydrogen is in the industries that are using hydrogen to several manufacturing processes. Our system only needs a feedstock of Methanol mixed with water and it is able to provide a minimum of 9,6 kg/h of hydrogen.
Once we have reached the hot stand by status is prepared to using the methanol available to produce electricity or hydrogen but without any external power supply need, our E-NOMAD or H-NOMAD solution system is able to keep itself running with the same energy that it is generating or accumulating. One practical application is in the mining areas because with our E-NOMAD in hot stand by and a second truck with methanol we are able to charge any vehicle or battery pack available supplying 140 kw per hour.
What do you see as the biggest challenges and opportunities in the green energy sector today?
Jordi Priu : The renewable energy demand has increased globally in recent years and specially when the focus has been to reduce greenhouse emissions, combating climate change and advancing sustainability through the electrification all of the equipment that it is using the fossil fuel.
This increase of the energy demand to provide energy to all the transition to the electrification together with the big challenge of “Zero emission” has started to generate a huge opportunities and challenges but the main ones are the time to finish the transition and the billions on investment needed to reach the targets.
The big challenge is the “zero emission” target, but till we get it (if we get it someday), a lot of different emission reduction solutions must be implemented.
What are Methanol Reformer’s core strategic goals for the next five years, and how will you align them with MMM Energy’s mission and global decarbonization efforts?
Jordi Priu : At Methanol Reformer we want to position our products as a “standard” green energy solution worldwide. For next years a turnover higher than 300M€ and factories at least in three different continents are among our strategic targets.
The Methanol Reformer’s Core Strategic Goal for the next five years are focus 4 areas. Firstly, business expansion till we reach a turnover above 200 M€. Second, is to increase the quantity of hydrogen or electricity to be supplied so that we have a system with at least 1,5 MW and a range of products capable to work with different alternatives like bio fueling. Third, is to have enough equipment in the field for a good understanding of the supply power to direct the investment in suitable areas. Lastly, we aim to invest part of the profit to contribute to provide local needs as low-cost equipment as a backup system for Schools, main system or backup systems to assure clean water to local communities.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to enter the green energy sector, especially in hydrogen production?
Jordi Priu : I would recommend trying to find an added value solution, validate it, make a lot of noise to be known and to aim high. The world is full of opportunities and sometimes the countries that you would never guess are betting for green energy solutions.
I think that for a company to be successful in the green sector, it needs to have an open business mind because no one has the right knowledge of everything. So, strategic partnerships are the key if you want to succeed. If you go alone, it will take more time, more risks, more resources.
