整体, a Nebraska-based clean materials producer, has received conditional approval from the U.S. Dept. of Energy for a $1.04-billion loan to expand its hydrogen and carbon black production facilities.

Kiewitis expected to build the expansion at Monolith’s Olive Creek plant in Hallam, Neb., and to provide engineering and procurement services for the project, although the contract has not been finalized. The companies have been working on front-end engineering and design for the project.

Doe和Monolith的官员于12月23日宣布了有条件的批准，建筑定于2022年开始。Monolith表示该项目将支持约1,000个工作岗位。

Depending on its ability to meet DOE conditions, Monolith said it would receive the 20-year loan under DOE's Title XVII Innovative Energy Loan Guarantee Program, which guarantees loans for projects aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and supporting clean energy.

Doe说，这是自2016年以来获得该计划有条件承诺的第一个非核电项目。

它也将是第一个商业规模品ation of methane pyrolysis, which superheats renewable natural gas to break the bonds between carbon and hydrogen to produce hydrogen and carbon black, most well-known for its use in tires. DOE says the process could reduce carbon emissions from hydrogen and carbon black production by 80% compared to traditional methods.

整体estimates that the technology could prevent 2.3 tons of carbon dioxide from being released for every ton of carbon black it produces.

Rob Hanson, Monolith CEO and cofounder, said the company’s technology will play a role in2050 decarbonization goals.“Monolith's pyrolysis technology will play a vital role in the energy transition,” he said in a statement.

Monolith说，与现有设施相比，这种扩张将使橄榄溪的产量最多增加13倍，使其成为美国最大的炭黑植物，每年能够生产194,000公吨。生产的大多数氢将用于肥料的清洁氨。

“Advanced, clean production technology like Monolith's are the types of impactful projects that support not just sustainability, but economic growth and clean energy jobs for the American people,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.