State of West Virginia Agrees to Provide $10 Million for Development of Babcock & Wilcox BrightLoop™ Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Project

AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (B&W) (NYSE: BW) announced today that one of its subsidiaries has signed an agreement for funding of up to $10 million from the West Virginia Department of Economic Development for the development of a BrightLoop™ hydrogen production and carbon capture facility in Mason County, W. Va. The funding will support performance-based milestones for creating a low-carbon-emissions hydrogen facility powered by coal and biomass.

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The memorandum of agreement between B&W’s wholly-owned Mountaineer C2H, LLC subsidiary and the state provides financial and economic development assistance for the project. The $10 million in funding will be phased in upon achievement of key project milestones.

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said, “This is a tremendous win for West Virginia, Mason County, and our entire state. Babcock & Wilcox's decision to bring its technology and expertise here is a testament to our state's growing reputation as a hub for innovation and forward-thinking energy solutions. This investment not only creates jobs but also positions West Virginia to continue being the leader in the energy industry.”

Jimmy Morgan, B&W Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “We are grateful to the state of West Virginia and the Department of Economic Development for their support of B&W’s cutting-edge energy technology that will utilize coal and biomass from West Virginia while simultaneously capturing and sequestering the CO2 emissions to create low carbon intensity hydrogen. We’re seeing tremendous interest in our BrightLoop hydrogen production technology from potential customers and partners across the U.S. and globally, and we’re excited to begin development of this project in West Virginia as we pursue additional financing and equity partners to complete this project.”

Morgan added, “Demand for hydrogen is growing rapidly across many sectors, and we look forward to developing a facility that will have a major economic impact in West Virginia. The clean hydrogen generated by this project could be used for a variety of purposes, including power generation and industrial applications. B&W has a long history of energy projects in West Virginia and we are committed to further job growth to support these projects.”

“The total financial commitment by the State of West Virginia requires B&W to complete the project by 2030 and produce 28 full-time, high-paying local jobs,” Morgan said. “The project is also expected to result in numerous additional jobs for skilled laborers and craftspeople supporting construction. This is a true partnership with West Virginia, and we’re excited to be a part of the energy transition and economic growth within the state.”

B&W's BrightLoop technology utilizes a proprietary iron-oxide TranspO2rt™ particle, producing hydrogen by splitting water molecules while simultaneously capturing carbon emissions more efficiently. The process requires less energy input to create hydrogen, delivers a carbon-neutral or net-negative impact, and supports a wider range of fuels, including solid and gaseous options.

About Babcock & Wilcox

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. is a leader in energy and environmental products and services for power and industrial markets worldwide. Follow us on LinkedIn and learn more at babcock.com.