Proton Green is an energy transition platform company focused on our community and environment. Our mission is to become one of North America’s leading producers of Helium and Beverage Grade CO2, as well as one of the largest carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) facilities in the U.S.
We are committed to leveraging these resources to drive sustainable growth. We are excited to be at the forefront of the energy transition and look forward to continuing to innovate and evolve as we work towards a brighter future for all.
Green Helium
VAST HELIUM/CO2 RESERVOIR AND CARBON STORAGE HUB
The St. Johns Field is a massive helium/CO2 reservoir and carbon storage basin located on 152,000 acres in Apache County, Arizona. Extensive third-party studies performed on the property estimate reserves of up to 33 billion cubic feet of helium in shallow, easily accessible reservoirs. Capable of producing 565 million cubic feet of helium per year, it will be among the most prolific helium production sites in the world.
Helium produced at St. Johns is unique in that it is not derived as a byproduct of natural gas production, which is typical of most helium production. The gas deposit is composed mostly of carbon dioxide, and as the helium is extracted in the production process, the CO2 will be sold into the beverage grade CO2 market or reinjected into isolated geological formations and safely sequestered deep underground for millennia. As a result, the helium produced at St. Johns is exceptionally clean and environmentally friendly.
Helium is the only element on the planet that is a completely non-renewable resource. It is both scarce and finite, with no commercially viable industrial process to replicate it. Helium is formed by the natural radioactive decay process of Uranium and can be trapped underground if a halite or anhydrite cap exists above it. If helium is not trapped in this way, it escapes to the atmosphere and rises into space.
Helium is the coldest element, with a boiling point of only 4° Kelvin, and has unique superfluid properties. It has many applications as a high-tech coolant and is a critical component for nearly all modern technology systems.
For example, liquid helium is used to cool the magnets in MRI systems, helping to optimize their function. It is also used to control the temperature of silicon in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Because helium is inert and non-flammable, it is used in space and satellite systems as a purge gas in hydrogen systems and as a pressurizing agent for ground and flight fluid systems. NASA, SpaceX and Blue Origin are major consumers of helium.
Data centers use helium to encapsulate hard drives, which reduces friction and energy consumption – Google, Amazon, and Netflix are all major consumers. Quantum computing systems also use liquid helium in dilution refrigerators, providing temperatures as low as 2 mK.
Carbon Storage
ONE OF THE LARGEST CARBON STORAGE HUBS IN THE WORLD
The St. Johns Field is not only an abundant source of helium and carbon dioxide, but it also boasts geological characteristics that make it an optimal carbon storage basin. The site has the capacity to inject up to 22 million metric tons of CO2 annually, with a total storage potential exceeding 1 billion metric tons. This makes St. Johns one of the most significant carbon capture sites globally. Moreover, its strategic location in the rapidly developing American Southwest and proximity to several coal-fired power plants make it a crucial carbon sequestration hub in the region.
Proton Green’s operating costs for carbon capture will be lower than its competitors because it doesn’t need to liquefy CO2 before injection due to its shallow reservoirs. The exceptionally well-suited geological storage structure, and the site’s remote location, pipeline infrastructure, right of way, and Class VI storage permits (once granted) will be substantial barriers to entry for competitors.
Beverage grade CO2
AN OCEAN OF CO2
A shortage of beverage grade CO2 due to contamination at Jackson Dome and decreased production from ethanol plants presents an opportunity for Proton Green. With trillions of cubic feet of CO2 available in the St. Johns reservoir, Proton Green will take advantage of this market dislocation in the near term and create a very profitable long-term business selling CO2 to food, beverage, medical and industrial customers. Proton Green is negotiating long-term offtake agreements for beverage grade CO2 to take advantage of the current supply disruption.
Carbon Research
NET-ZERO CARBON RESEARCH, RENEWABLE ENERGY, AND INNOVATION CENTER
Proton Green is committed to fostering innovation in the field of carbon-neutral technologies and processes. To achieve this goal, the company will collaborate with government agencies, NGOs, research institutions, and renewable energy and startup companies to establish a state-of-the-art incubator and innovation center. This center will focus on developing emerging technologies such as producing hydrogen, CO2-enhanced geothermal energy, biomass energy, large-scale wind and solar power, and carbon fiber materials. Proton Green can provide CO2, land, expertise and other resources to its partners to support these projects.
In addition, Proton Green has established a partnership with a direct air capture company to deploy a groundbreaking technology that significantly reduces the cost of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. Due to its unique location, elevation, surrounding wind, and reservoir, St. Johns is an ideal site for this innovative technology.
Furthermore, Proton Green has formed a coalition with the Gas Technology Institute, Arizona State University, Baker Hughes, Tucson Electric Power, and Salt River Partners to explore and implement new carbon capture techniques and technologies on the St. Johns field. The Company is dedicated to driving the development and deployment of innovative carbon capture solutions to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment.