Challenge
Hago Energetics has developed systems that convert organic waste, such as agricultural waste, landfill gas, and wastewater treatment byproducts, into clean hydrogen for transportation and industrial use, as well as biochar for soil enhancement. California’s 2045 carbon neutrality goals and the need to decarbonize agriculture and heavy-duty transport underscore the urgency of Hago’s mission.
To advance commercialization and secure funding for its proposed hydrogen production facility in Madera, California, the company needed independent, third-party validation of its carbon footprint. Hago Energetics leveraged the U.S. Department of Energy’s (USDOE) EnergyWerx voucher program, which provides in-kind technical support from industry experts, to accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies. Through this program, Hago chose EcoEngineers to conduct a life-cycle analysis (LCA) and evaluate potential carbon intensity (CI) reduction strategies for its proposed hydrogen production facility.
Solution
EcoEngineers conducted a comprehensive LCA using the California Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies (CA-GREET) 4.0 model and the Tier 1 CI Calculator for Hydrogen. The analysis modeled hydrogen production via methane pyrolysis with biochar as a catalyst, assessing three different scenarios that deliver either gaseous or liquid hydrogen to nearby refueling stations and Los Angeles ports. The detailed analysis report quantified Hago’s process CI score, including the impact of biochar soil sequestration.
Results
The LCA confirmed that Hago’s hydrogen production pathway achieves negative CI scores, as low as -492 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule, when accounting for biochar soil application. While negative CI scores are counter-intuitive, they are increasingly recognized in regulatory frameworks when supported by rigorous modeling and third-party validation. Even without biochar carbon sequestration, the CI remained strongly negative. Hago leveraged the LCA report to secure a waste-to-fuel USDOE grant and for advancing investor discussions.
By validating the carbon-negative potential of Hago’s approach, based on modeled scenarios and third-party validation of the LCA, EcoEngineers helped the company strengthen its case for funding and regulatory alignment. These results now serve as a foundation for future scale-up efforts and continued progress toward commercialization.
