Project description
Catalytic methane splitting technology for a swift energy decarbonisation
Methane splitting offers a promising route for producing hydrogen without emitting CO2, making it a key technology in accelerating the energy transition. The EIC-funded ZeroCarb project will advance this field by developing an intermediate-temperature catalytic methane splitting (IT-CMS) reactor that runs on biomethane and green electricity. Building on the success of the EU-funded 112CO2 project, ZeroCarb will develop and operate a demonstration unit capable of producing 2 kg/h of hydrogen and 6 kg/h of graphitic carbon. This unit, including all necessary balance-of-plant components, will serve as a proof-of-concept of the IT-CMS technology positioned as a highly promising alternative for clean hydrogen production in refineries, ammonia plants and methanol facilities. This hydrogen is not only green but also cost-effective while generating carbon credits.
Objective
Project ZeroCarb will develop, optimize, and operate an intermediate-temperature catalytic methane splitting (IT-CMS) reactor, with the balance of plant, in a relevant environment (TRL6), using biomethane as feedstock and green electricity. This project follows 112CO2 (GA 952219), which developed the fundamentals for the IT-CMS. It is generally accepted that this reaction, also known as methane decomposition or pyrolysis, will play a critical role in the swift and cost-effective energy transition. Due to this great potential, several different processes have been proposed, and new and existing companies are investing in this technology.
IT-CMS technology displays, however, critical advantages over all other technologies: i) avoids the use of special reactor’s envelop materials, since it runs at 750 °C and 1 bar, and is catalytic; ii) when fed with biomethane it produces H2 with a negative CO2 footprint and renewable graphitic carbon; iii) the produced metal-free carbon nanofilaments (mostly MWCNT) are shaved off chemically using H2; iv) the reactor is more energy efficient since it uses a fixed bed; v) the catalyst is activated steel foil, commercially available, which reduces the CAPEX tremendously; vi) the reactor module is expected to display a high power density, ca. 1.5 kW L-1, and energy efficiency > 80 %, and a catalyst high stability >> 8500 h; and vii) low CAPEX plant, significantly cheaper than an SMR plant.
ZeroCarb targets the development of a demonstration unit producing 2 kgH2 h-1 (ca. 67 kWH2e) and 6 kgC h-1, based on an activated steel foil packed in a plate and frame module. HyCarb aims to bring this technology into the market and meet industry standards or regulations. The business model will be validated with the two industrial partners, CapWatt for hydrogen exploitation (for refineries and synthesis of ammonia/methanol) and BeDimensional as an off-taker of high-purity carbon (for electrically conductive inks/pastes and electrochemical devices).
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-EIC-2024-TRANSITION-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
4099-002 Porto
Portugal
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.