In the United States (US), Suburban Propane Partners, L.P, a nationwide distributor of propane, fuel oil, and related products and services, has announced a deal to acquire a 25 percent equity stake in Independence Hydrogen, Inc., a veteran-owned and operated supplier of gaseous hydrogen solutions, for US$30.0 million. The Partnership also announced the creation of a new subsidiary, Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC, as part of its long-term strategic goal of building out a renewable energy platform.
According to a statement, Suburban Propane is committed to investing in and fostering innovative solutions to support the economy-wide transition to a sustainable energy future, while also advancing the clean energy benefits of propane to support the transition.
Hydrogen is seen as a critical energy source to decarbonize the material handling, transportation, and heavy industry sectors, and to provide grid resiliency as backup power and long-duration storage to enable the deployment of intermittent renewable energy sources.
We believe in the role that hydrogen will play in the move toward decarbonization across many sectors of the economy. In line with our commitment to the military veterans’ community through our SuburbanCares corporate pillar, we are extremely excited to partner with the team at Independence Hydrogen to help them achieve their vision and mission of localized hydrogen production and distribution, said Michael Stivala, President and CEO of Suburban Propane.
Independence Hydrogen, Inc. is a privately-held veteran-owned and operated company developing a gaseous hydrogen ecosystem to deliver locally-sourced hydrogen to local markets, with a primary focus on material handling and backup power applications.
Suburban Propane’s logistics expertise, unwavering focus on safety, and localized service model are perfectly situated to support the adoption of hydrogen solutions in the marketplace and accelerate the growth of Independence Hydrogen. This investment is the most recent demonstration of our ongoing commitment to lead the industry in innovation as society transitions to a renewable energy future, Michael Stivala said.
Independence Hydrogen’s mission is to make communities cleaner, safer, and more energy resilient by providing a reliable supply of affordable hydrogen with an end-to-end carbon intensity score.
The team of combat-experienced military veterans is committed to the highest standards for safety, integrity, and service to others.
I have the honor of leading a team of fellow veterans with fierce execution skills, and we are on a mission to make our communities safer and more energy resilient with reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly hydrogen, said William Lehner, Founder, and CEO of Independence Hydrogen.
Form new subsidiary
Suburban Propane’s formation of a new wholly-owned subsidiary, Suburban Renewable Energy, LLC (Suburban Renewables), will serve as the platform for its investments in innovative, renewable energy technologies and businesses.
Suburban Propane joins our existing investors at Hivers & Strivers, a venture group that backs military veterans exclusively, to create a true partnership with a shared vision to supply clean hydrogen locally in resilient, networked hubs for powering the American energy transition. We are excited to collaborate with Suburban Propane which is a force multiplier with many synergies to further accelerate our rapid expansion, William Lehner said.
In addition to the investment in Independence Hydrogen, Suburban Renewables will also hold the partnership’s 39 percent equity stake in Oberon Fuels (Oberon), acquired in September 2020.
Oberon is a developer and producer of renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) which, when blended with propane, can significantly reduce emissions and carbon intensity (CI).
Additionally, rDME has the potential to be an efficient and cost-effective carrier of hydrogen. The partnership is continuing to invest in Oberon’s technology and is working toward the commercial sale of propane +rDME blended products.
