New clean energy process converts methane to hydrogen with zero CO2 emissions

March 21, 2021 |

In France, researchers from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and West Virginia University, in collaboration with industry partners Southern California Gas Company and C4-MCP, developed a process that converts methane—the primary component of natural gas—into hydrogen while emitting zero CO2. The process also creates carbon solids for manufacturing applications.

The hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for transportation including trucks, and large-scale energy storage, while the high-quality carbon products are suitable for a wide range of manufacturing applications, such as electronics, medical devices, aerospace composite materials, and building systems. Commercial sale of the carbon products offsets the cost of hydrogen production—a critical factor for industry.

The novel “blue hydrogen” approach—clean hydrogen from natural gas versus renewable resources—could help California achieve its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels. As part of that goal, the state aims to replace five million standard gas-powered vehicles with low- or zero-emission vehicles by 2030. Those targets will also help the state meet health-based air quality requirements established in the federal Clean Air Act.

Category: Research

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