The global supply of rare gases, particularly xenon and krypton, has become highly unstable following the war between Russia and Ukraine, previously the world’s largest producers. This disruption has driven significant price volatility, impacting critical industries such as aerospace and medical imaging that rely on these gases for applications including satellite propulsion and imaging technologies.
At the same time, demand in North America is growing rapidly, driven by semiconductor reshoring and the expansion of satellite constellations. Despite holding approximately 35% of the global xenon market, North America lacks a stable, domestic supply, leaving companies dependent on imports and exposed to geopolitical risk.
Capturing CO₂ and rare gases from air to enable low-carbon fuels and a stable North American supply of xenon and krypton.
Hydron is developing a carbon-negative direct air capture system that simultaneously captures CO₂, xenon, and krypton from the atmosphere, enabling both low carbon fuel production and a more stable supply of rare gases.
Through its partnership with StormFisher Hydrogen, Hydron will supply captured CO₂ to support the production of low carbon methanol at StormFisher’s facility in Montreal. At the same time, Hydron’s INTRUPTor technology extracts xenon and krypton at significantly lower cost than existing methods, creating a viable North American supply alternative for aerospace and industrial users.
This approach supports the development of a domestic rare gas hub, reducing reliance on international suppliers and improving supply chain resilience. Lower-cost xenon also opens access to additional applications, including medical imaging, where high prices have historically limited use.
NorthX’s investment will accelerate the deployment and validation of Hydron’s technology, strengthening Canada’s position in both the direct air capture and rare gas markets while reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions associated with production.
