The core of the system is a modular generator that can produce hydrogen peroxide. In a catalytic cell, water and oxygen are converted into H₂O₂ in a single electrochemical step. Thanks to this distributed approach, the peroxide could be used in the future even in places where its use has been limited because of the costs of transportation and storage — for example, in greenhouses for vegetables or flowers. To make sure that the hoses for drip irrigation don’t get clogged, they have to be rinsed regularly. In the past, many growers used fairly aggressive cleaning agents or chlorine-based products instead of environmentally friendly hydrogen peroxide. The use of H₂O₂, whose only byproduct is water, used to be too expensive for growers. “The technology developed by HPNow is making it possible for the first time to produce hydrogen peroxide when it’s needed and to use it directly on site,” says Mohr.
The new system has already passed the first set of practical tests with great success.

Photo: Getty Images, HPNow