By Livy Seirer
MANHATTAN, Kan. (May 10, 2022 — HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. has announced it will open a new commercial scale manufacturing plant in Manhattan, Kansas. The facility will produce graphene — nanomaterial used by a wide range of industries — and hydrogen for alternative-energy fuels.
Stuart Jara, chief executive officer of HydroGraph, said the location was a strategic choice.
“The close proximity of our manufacturing facility to our research partners at Kansas State University will help us maintain our competitive advantage with a virtuous cycle between our commercial production and continuing R&D.”
HydroGraph — which was publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange in 2021 — formed after collaborating with K-State researchers for many years. In 2017, HydroGraph exclusively licensed the patented detonation process discovered by Chris Sorensen, Cortelyou-Rust university distinguished professor and university distinguished teaching scholar at K-State. According to Jara, Sorensen’s method produces the most consistent, high-quality and cost-effective graphene available on the market and has the lowest environmental footprint. The exclusive license was coordinated by K-State Innovation Partners.
Production is scheduled to begin in the Manhattan pilot-scale facility as early as fall 2022. The location has been established in an existing building in Pottawatomie County. Over the next five years, the company plans to expand to a larger production facility and create more than 100 high-paying jobs in the Manhattan region.
“This project aligns with our community’s economic development strategies to drive innovation and entrepreneurship and is a prime example of how targeted economic growth can work when university, community and industry partners come together behind a common goal,” said Jason Smith, president/CEO of the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce and chair of the KBED board.