This Hydrogen Developer Wants To Take Food Systems Off-Grid
Jason Herring, CEO of VIVIFY Technology, says on-demand hydrogen generation could help food businesses generate power on-site, reducing reliance on the grid.
Daphne Ewing-Chow, Senior Contributor
Forbes
3 min read
6/10
Key Takeaways
VIVIFY Technology's on-demand hydrogen generation system uses advanced electrolysis to produce hydrogen at the point of use, requiring only water and electricity.
A pilot with a Midwest dairy processor resulted in a 25% reduction in energy costs and eliminated the need for natural gas backup.
The system outputs up to 500 kg of hydrogen per day, sufficient for a facility with ~1 MW electrical load.
Global hydrogen generation market is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2030, driven by demand for distributed clean energy in industrial sectors like food.
Food processing and storage account for roughly 10% of U.S. industrial energy use, making the sector a prime candidate for on-site hydrogen solutions.
Food systems consume massive amounts of energy, and the vast majority of that power comes from the grid. One hydrogen developer says that dependence is both costly and fragile — and that on-demand hydrogen generation can fix it. Jason Herring, CEO of VIVIFY Technology, is on a mission to take food processing and storage off-grid using distributed hydrogen production. His company's system generates hydrogen on-site, on demand, so food businesses can produce their own electricity and heat without relying on the utility grid — an innovation that could slash energy bills, boost resilience, and shrink carbon footprints. The who, what, where, when, and why are clear: Herring leads VIVIFY, a clean-energy startup that deploys electrolysis units at food facilities to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen then feeds either a fuel cell or a hydrogen-fired boiler to provide continuous power and heat. The why now is urgent: food supply chains face mounting pressure from volatile energy prices, increasing regulatory demands for decarbonization, and the risk of grid outages that spoil perishables. On-site power generation, via hydrogen, offers a way to buffer those shocks. The context for this push is more than a decade of hydrogen hype, but actual adoption in distributed settings has been slow. Most green hydrogen today is produced at large central plants and transported to end users. VIVIFY’s model flips that: generate exactly what you need, exactly where you need it. The company's technology leverages advanced electrolyzers that can ramp up and down in seconds, matching the variable demand of food processors, cold storage facilities, and vertical farms. The key details: VIVIFY has already piloted its system with a mid-sized dairy processor in the Midwest, achieving a 25% reduction in energy costs and eliminating the need for natural gas backup. The unit occupies about the footprint of a shipping container and can produce up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen per day, enough to power a facility consuming roughly 1 megawatt of electricity. Herring says the capital cost is competitive with diesel generators over a five-year horizon, and the operational cost is lower, especially when paired with on-site solar panels that supply the electrolysis power. Analysis: If VIVIFY succeeds, it would mark a significant step toward decentralized clean energy in one of the most energy-intensive sectors. Food processing and storage account for roughly 10% of total industrial energy use in the United States. Shifting even a fraction of that to on-demand hydrogen generation would cut grid strain, reduce emissions, and give food companies a hedge against energy price spikes. However, challenges remain: the efficiency of electrolysis (still around 70-80%), the durability of fuel cells in dusty or damp environments, and the overall cost compared to grid power in regions with cheap electricity. Experts note that the real breakthrough would be combining hydrogen generation with energy storage, allowing businesses to bank hydrogen during low-demand hours and use it when grid prices spike. Outlook: VIVIFY plans to scale its deployments to 50 facilities by the end of 2027, focusing on food processors and cold-chain warehouses. The company is also exploring partnerships with solar developers to create fully off-grid microgrids for rural agricultural operations. Milestones to watch include the launch of a second-generation electrolyzer claiming 85% efficiency and a potential federal grant from the Department of Energy’s H2Hubs program. If the economics pencil out, on-demand hydrogen generation could become a standard feature of modern food infrastructure — not just an experiment.
Frequently Asked Questions
On-demand hydrogen generation is the production of hydrogen gas exactly when and where it is needed, typically via electrolysis of water. It eliminates the need for storage or transportation of hydrogen, allowing facilities to produce their own clean fuel for power and heat.
VIVIFY uses advanced electrolyzers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity. The hydrogen can then be fed into a fuel cell to generate electricity or burned in a hydrogen boiler for heat. The system is designed for rapid ramping to match variable energy demand.
Food processing and cold storage are energy-intensive and highly sensitive to outages. Off-grid power via on-demand hydrogen generation provides resilience against grid failures, reduces exposure to volatile energy prices, and helps meet decarbonization targets without relying on natural gas or diesel.
Key benefits include lower and more predictable energy costs, reduced carbon emissions, enhanced energy independence, elimination of backup diesel generators, and the ability to integrate with on-site renewable energy like solar panels to further reduce operational expenses.
Yes, when properly designed. Modern electrolysis and fuel cell systems are enclosed, automated, and include multiple safety sensors. The hydrogen is used immediately and not stored in large quantities, which minimizes risk. VIVIFY's pilot facility passed all safety inspections.
The total cost of ownership over a 5-year horizon can be competitive with diesel generators or backup natural gas. When paired with cheap solar electricity for electrolysis, the cost per kilowatt-hour can be lower than grid power in regions with high industrial electricity rates.
