Industries
Refining
Already the world's largest hydrogen market. No adoption problem to solve — only a cost and certification problem.
How molecular energy affects refining
Refineries consume large volumes of hydrogen for hydrotreating and hydrocracking, produced either on site by reforming or as a by-product of other processes. Substituting low-carbon hydrogen requires no change to the refinery's process units, which makes refining the most frictionless demand in the entire hydrogen economy. The barriers are purely price and certification, and refiners are also among the few buyers with the scale and technical capability to contract confidently.
Relevant molecules
What competes
- Electrolytic hydrogen versus on-site reforming with carbon capture
- Imported hydrogen or ammonia versus on-site production
- Co-processing bio-feedstocks as an alternative decarbonisation route
- e-fuel and SAF production as a new revenue line within existing refinery assets
Where the commercial opportunities are
Substituting existing hydrogen consumption at scale, with no end-use change required
Refinery sites as ready hosts for electrolysis — grid connection, land, permits and skills exist
Carbon capture on existing reforming units, a concentrated and comparatively cheap stream
Converting refinery assets toward SAF and synthetic fuel production
Project types we see
Categories of project active across the industry — not a list of MolecularX engagements.
Questions
Why are refineries such a good early market?
Because they already buy and use hydrogen in large, steady volumes, have the technical capability to evaluate suppliers, and need no new equipment to consume a low-carbon version. There is no adoption barrier — the conversation is about price, reliability and certification.
Do refineries want to buy hydrogen or make it?
Both patterns exist. Many are well suited to hosting electrolysis themselves, since they have grid connections, land, permitting history and operating skills. Others prefer to contract supply and keep capital out of it. Which applies is a site-specific commercial question.
How we can help
Offtake & Buyer Discovery
Finding and qualifying the buyers a production project needs to be financeable.
Read more →Techno-Economic Analysis
Levelised cost modelling with the assumptions exposed and the sensitivities tested.
Read more →Technology Assessment
Independent, criteria-driven comparison of the technologies competing for your project.
Read more →Policy & Regulation
What the rules require, what the incentives are worth, and how both change your commercial case.
Read more →Working in refining?
Tell us what you provide or what you are trying to build, and we will tell you whether there is something here worth pursuing.