OCOchem Fires Up World’s First Industrial CO2 Electrolyzer Pilot for Sustainable Hydrogen Formate Production

OCOchem Flips the Switch on First-Ever Industrial-Scale CO₂-to-Formate Plant

On April 8, 2025, something big happened in Richland, Washington—and it might just change the way we think about carbon. OCOchem officially launched the world’s first industrial-scale pilot plant designed to turn CO₂ and water into formate compounds using advanced electrolysis technology. That’s right—carbon dioxide, the stuff we’re normally trying to get rid of, is now getting a second life as something useful.

From Concept to Reality in Just Six Weeks

This isn’t science fiction. The pilot plant, a compact but powerful modular facility with a price tag of $5 million, came together in only six weeks—built, installed, and fired up at lightning speed. At the heart of the operation is a 4-cell stack, each with a 1.5 m² CO₂ gas diffusion electrode, all running under ambient conditions. It doesn’t need extreme temperatures or pressures—just smart engineering.

The system is capable of producing up to 60 tons per year of hydrogen and potassium formate. That’s a serious boost for both hydrogen production and zero-emission technology.

New Ground in Carbon Utilization

This launch isn’t just a technical milestone—it’s a huge step forward for carbon utilization. While most clean tech efforts focus on renewable power or scraping carbon out of the air, OCOchem is carving out a third, bold new path: using electrolysis to make sustainable, fossil-free chemicals. No fossil fuels. No biomass. Just carbon, water, and electricity brought together in a smarter way.

Funding the Future

Of course, game-changing innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Backed by $7.5 million in private equity and another $8.3 million in public grant funding, OCOchem has the financial muscle to go after big goals. This pilot facility is just the beginning—and possibly the blueprint for how the world can clean up its act without compromising on the chemicals and fuels we rely on every single day.

In a world racing toward cleaner energy and smarter solutions, this project blends green hydrogen, next-gen electrolysis, and creative thinking into one scalable package. Keep an eye on this space—because if this pilot is anything to go by, the future of sustainable industry just got a serious upgrade.