About Us

About Vulcanx

About Vulcanx

VulcanX is not your typical startup. We spun out from MéridaLabs at the University of British Columbia with a de-risked demonstration plant. It all started in 2017 when we met with international partners to discuss methane pyrolysis. Since then, we have developed new systems that can produce hydrogen and solid carbon more efficiently and at a low cost.

We secured non-dilutive funding to de-risk and scale up the technology and build a demonstration plant in Alberta, Canada.

VulcanX Energy Corp. was incorporated in October 2022. We are securing funding and investment to scale production to at least 1 tonne of hydrogen production per day by 2026.

About VulcanX

Lab to demonstration plant in 5 Years

Laboratory prototype
(2018)
$9.2M non-dilutive investment
Demonstration plant in Alberta
(2023)
About VulcanX

Team

Dr. Omar Herrera
Dr. Omar Herrera CEO, Founder
Megan McGinley, CPA, CA, MBA
Megan McGinley, CPA, CA, MBA CFO
Dr. Amir Sharafian, P.Eng.
Dr. Amir Sharafian, P.Eng. CTO, Founder
Nader Ardalan, MSc, P.Eng.
Nader Ardalan, MSc, P.Eng. Senior Engineering Manager
Iraj Mazamani, P.Eng., PMP
Iraj Mazamani, P.Eng., PMP Senior Process Engineer
Harry Liu, M.Eng., P.Eng.
Harry Liu, M.Eng., P.Eng. Senior Mechanical Engineer
Dr. Luke Jiang, P.Eng.
Dr. Luke Jiang, P.Eng. Senior Instrumentation and Control Engineer
Dr. Shashank Patlolla
Dr. Shashank Patlolla Research Scientist
Dr. Moji Malayeri
Dr. Moji Malayeri Research Scientist
Juan Pinzon, MEL, P.Eng.
Juan Pinzon, MEL, P.Eng. Project Manger
Phil Hofer
Phil Hofer Piping Design and Drafter
Dr. Walter Mérida, FCAE
Dr. Walter Mérida, FCAE Advisor, Founder

Partners

Our Timeline

Jan. 2024
Class 5 Cost Estimates Completed
Precommercial Plant
Jan. 2024
Jan. 2024

Construction Completed
Demonstration plant

Vulcanx Lab

2024
2024
Feb. 2024

Commissioning Completed
Demonstration plant

Mar. 2024
Alberta Innovates Fund - $650K

Alberta Innovates

 

 
NRCan - $1.35M

Natural Resource Canada

 
2024
May 2024
May 2024
FortisBC – Clean Growth Innovation Fund - $2M

FortisBC

 

 
B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) - $75K

B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy

June 2024
Precommercial Plant Design - Started
1 Tonne H2 /day
June 2024
Dec. 2024
Dec. 2024
Pre-Front-End Engineering Design (Pre-FEED) Completed
Precommercial Plant
 
Jan. 2023

Procurement Started
Demonstration plant

2023
2023
Apr. 2023
Clean Resource Innovation Network (CRIN)- $1.25M
Clean Resource Innovation Network
Sep. 2023
Construction Began Demonstration plant
2023
Mar. 2022

Detailed Design Started

Vulcanx Lab

Demonstration plant

2022
2022
Nov. 2022
NRCan –Energy Innovation Program- $1.25M
Natural Resource Canada


Patent 1 - Filed
US application ser # 17/925,298
Canadian application ser # 3,183,418
Australian application ser # 2021274315

Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF)- $0.43M
Natural Gas Innovation Fund
Jan. 2021
Alberta Innovates Fund - $5M
Alberta Innovates


Partners - $1.25M
2021
2021
Mar. 2021

Demonstration plant Design - Started‎ ‎

Sep. 2021
Front-End Engineering Design Completed
Demonstration plant
2021
2021
Nov. 2021

Provisional Patent 2- Filed (Volume compensation in hydrogen production from hydrocarbons)

Feb. 2020
Market Assessment and Techno-economic Analysis
2020
2020
May 2020
Provisional Patent 1- Filed (Hydrogen production from hydrocarbons without carbon dioxide emissions)
Sep. 2020

Lab Prototype Completed

1 kg H2 /day

 

Vulcanx Lab

2020

Apr. 2019

Process Optimization

 


 

Nov. 2019

Reactor Simulation

2019
2018

Dec. 2018

Process Modelling

Feb. 2017

Technology Scan

 


 

Mar. 2017

Hosting the BCTECH Summit 2017 - Innovations in Clean Natural Gas

2017

Funding Agencies