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Hong Kong renewable energy firm brings benefits of green hydrogen to Malaysian university

  • EPRO Advance Technology’s patented process helps hydrogen to be generated using their patented silicon material Si+
  • The technology will be used for the world’s first silicon-based hydrogen generator to power electric buses on Universiti Malaya’s Kuala Lumpur campus

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Universiti Malaya in collaboration with EPRO Advance Technology is introducing the world’s first silicon-fuelled hydrogen genset on its campus. Photo: Facebook/@Universiti Malaya

A Hong Kong renewable energy company is bringing its proprietary hydrogen-generating technology to a Malaysian university campus as part of its push to create a circular economy.

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EPRO Advance Technology (EAT) has invented a process to generate hydrogen using their patented silicon material Si+. The start-up can produce the material using recycled silicon from retired solar panels that would otherwise be sent to landfill.

The technology will be used for the world’s first silicon-based hydrogen generator fuelled with silicon to power electric buses on Universiti Malaya’s Kuala Lumpur campus in the second half of this year, said CEO Albert Lau in an interview.

“This will provide a whole new circular economy and make hydrogen more [easily] available as it can be produced on site,” he said.

Albert Lau, co-founder and CEO of EPRO Advance Technology. Photo: Handout
Albert Lau, co-founder and CEO of EPRO Advance Technology. Photo: Handout

Currently, most hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels like coal or natural gas, but the carbon footprint from its production can be substantial. “Green” hydrogen, the cleanest form, is produced using electrolysis using renewable energy, which is expensive as the supply chain is being built.

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