A clean and cost competitive hydrogen production solution near the end user thanks to an innovative plasma methane pyrolysis technology

Project Information

hyplasma

Grant agreement ID: 190187335

DOI

10.3030/190187335

Project closed

EC signature date 20 November 2023

Start date 1 December 2023

End date 30 November 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 4 713 750,00

EU contribution

€ 2 500 000,00

Coordinated by

PLENESYS
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - hyplasma (A clean and cost competitive hydrogen production solution near the end user thanks to an innovative plasma methane pyrolysis technology)

Reporting period: 2023-12-01 to 2024-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Hydrogen is considered as one of the potential molecules to help fighting climate change by reducing CO2 emissions in many industrial applications. Nevertheless, if we want hydrogen to play its role as a clean alternative to fossil fuels, it is necessary that its production emissions and its production cost stay as low as possible. Nowadays, the most mature technologies for hydrogen production are steam methane reforming (called SMR) and water electrolysis. The first, SMR, has been used at industrial scale to produce hydrogen for over a century and has the benefits of having a low production cost less than one euro per kilogram of hydrogen. Its major drawback is its high CO2 emissions which exceed 10 kilogram of CO2 per kilogram of hydrogen. The second, electrolysis, is a clean alternative but has high electricity consumption and therefore has a high production cost that may exceed 6 euros per kilogram of hydrogen.

The HyPlasma project has as objective to help enabling the clean hydrogen economy to emerge by producing at the same time a clean and cost-effective hydrogen. In fact, the HyPlasma process uses high electrified heat produced via plasma technology to crack methane molecules into gaseous hydrogen and solid carbon powder. The advantage of HyPlasma is that it has no direct CO2 emissions like electrolysis and consumes 3 to 4 times less electricity than electrolysis which leads to a production cost that is in average 50 percent lower than that of electrolysis (around 3 euros per kilogram of hydrogen). In addition, the HyPlasma process helps sequestrating the carbon in a commercially valuable products like carbon black a precious commodity for tyre industries.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the previous period of the HyPlasma project, we have reached some important milestones. First, we have completed the engineering, procured and finished the assembly of the complete process (100 kW atmospheric pressure). We also have been able to run some preliminary tests on the pilot.

Second, we have proved that the grade of the carbon powder produced by HyPlasma is a commercial grade of carbon black. The analyses were performed with an external european laboratory. This means that the byproduct of hydrogen is valuable and can lead to more competitive price of hydrogen. It is worth mentioning that this carbon black can replace the carbon black existing in the market which is produced via a polluting process (around 4 kilogram of CO2 per kilogram of carbon black). This makes HyPlasma a clean alternative to both hydrogen and carbon clack production.

Third, a major milestone was reached by validating the new plasma torch version operating under pressure up to 6 brag which makes it the unique plasma torch operating under pressure in the market. With such performance, the HyPlasma process will be even more efficient. This also opens the door for other application for the Plasma technology itself.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Scientifically, in order to push further the undertaken research, Plenesys is engaging in a new partnership with a research institution in France with advanced simulation models through a PhD program. The purpose is to develop advanced modelling tool for the prediction of the formation of carbon powder. This tool will accelerate the development of Plenesys through the carbon black market.

In addition, Plenesys is engaging further discussions with international player of the hydrogen market, interested in the HyPlasma process for large scale production. Commitment with such players will enable the acceleration of the development and deployment of HyPlasma process at large industrial scales.

Plasma in operation

Part of the process test pilot