C-Zero plans new turquoise hydrogen pilot plant; major companies around the world invest into C-Zero’s new plant.
Here’s an article posted in Recharge News
According to the article,
- California-based start-up C-Zero has announced plans to build a turquoise hydrogen pilot plant in the US, following a $34 million investment from major energy players
- Investors: The funding for the project comes from French utility Engie, Singaporean energy trader Trafigura, and SK Gas, a subsidiary of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, SK.
- Location: The plant’s location remains undisclosed
C-Zero’s pyrolysis process works by splitting natural gas (methane) into hydrogen gas and solid carbon using high temperatures in a molten salt catalyst. The key advantages of C-Zero’s approach compared to other hydrogen production methods are:
Advantages:
Our specialty focus areas include 
- Produces hydrogen with virtually no direct CO2 emissions, unlike traditional methods that use fossil fuels and emit CO2
- Requires about 7.5 times less energy per mole of hydrogen produced compared to water electrolysis
- Generates solid carbon as a byproduct instead of CO2, which can be utilized in various industries or sequestered more easily than CO2
- Can utilize existing natural gas pipelines and infrastructure, avoiding the need for additionality of renewable energy required for green hydrogen
- Potentially qualifies for higher tiers of hydrogen production tax credits due to low emissions
Disadvantages:
- Still relies on natural gas as a feedstock, which is a fossil fuel, though emissions are greatly reduced
- Solid carbon byproduct may require additional processing or handling compared to gaseous CO2
- Pyrolysis is challenging due to coking of heat transfer surfaces, which C-Zero’s process aims to mitigate through its reactor design
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Turquoise Hydrogen Pilot Developed by C-Zero – Bill Gates-backed startup C-Zero is developing a ‘turquoise hydrogen’ pilot, deemed crucial for decarbonizing various sectors, with significant funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Eni SpA.
