Imagine splitting natural gas into two parts using an intense heat torch instead of water. This process creates clean hydrogen gas and leaves behind a solid carbon powder, like a soot, instead of releasing CO2 into the air. It's like baking the carbon out of the gas so it can be sold as a product rather than floating away as pollution.
Clean hydrogen is currently too expensive (over 6 euros/kg via electrolysis) or too polluting (10 kg CO2/kg via SMR). Industries need a solution that is both carbon-free and cost-competitive.
A 100 kW atmospheric pressure pilot plant that uses a 3-phase AC plasma torch to crack methane into hydrogen and commercial-grade carbon black.
If you are a tire producer dealing with the high carbon footprint of traditional carbon black production—this project developed a plasma pyrolysis process that creates commercial-grade carbon black as a byproduct. This allows you to source a precious commodity while reducing the 4 kg of CO2 typically emitted per kg of carbon black.
If you are a fleet operator dealing with the high cost of green hydrogen—this project developed a containerized production unit that can be placed near the end-user. It reduces production costs to around 3 euros per kilogram, which is 50 percent lower than electrolysis.
If you are an industrial plant dealing with high CO2 emissions from steam methane reforming—this project developed a plasma torch solution that retrofits into existing infrastructure. It eliminates direct CO2 emissions while consuming 3 to 4 times less electricity than electrolysis.
The production cost is approximately 3 euros per kilogram of hydrogen, which is on average 50 percent lower than the cost of electrolysis.
The project has completed the assembly and run preliminary tests on a 100 kW atmospheric pressure pilot process.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not mentioned, but the technology is developed by PLENESYS, an SME.
The solution is containerized for decentralized production and is designed to easily retrofit existing infrastructure without disrupting industrial processes.
The project period runs from December 1, 2023, to November 30, 2025.
The project is led by a single partner, PLENESYS, a French SME. This 100% industry-led consortium indicates a strong focus on commercialization and market entry rather than academic research, as there are no universities or research institutes involved.
Contact PLENESYS in France for technical specifications of the 100kW pilot.
Contact us to explore licensing or partnership opportunities with PLENESYS.
