Methane pyrolysis, often referred to as turquoise hydrogen production, harnesses high-temperature thermal decomposition of methane in an oxygen-free environment to yield pure hydrogen gas and solid carbon byproducts. Unlike steam methane reforming or traditional fossil-fuel pathways, pyrolysis avoids CO? emissions, unlocking a low-carbon route to scalable hydrogen essential for decarbonizing hard-to-electrify sectors. Market forecasts estimate a compound annual growth rate exceeding 20 percent over the next decade. With rising policy support and industrial demand for clean energy, a cadre of innovators is racing to commercialize diverse pyrolysis architectures, from fluidized-bed reactors to molten-salt separation systems.
Below, we spotlight six leading companies advancing methane pyrolysis, outlining their core technology and recent milestones.
Monolith emerged as the first to deploy commercial-scale methane pyrolysis divided into carbon black and hydrogen co-production. Backed by a $1 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee, Monolith’s Olive Creek facility produces approximately fourteen metric tons of hydrogen daily alongside high-value carbon black for rubber reinforcement. Leveraging proprietary non-oxidative heat-transfer modules and a Haber-Bosch integration roadmap for ammonia manufacture, Monolith has validated a 95 percent emissions reduction relative to conventional processes, positioning methane pyrolysis as a competitive alternative to established hydrogen routes.
Hazer has translated over a decade of University of Western Australia research into a fluidized-bed reactor catalyzed by naturally abundant iron ore. Its Commercial Demonstration Project, co-funded by Engie in France and Chubu Electric in Japan, is slated to produce around 100 tonnes of hydrogen and 380 tonnes of graphite annually. Hazer’s thermocatalytic approach operates near 850 °C, enabling modular scale-up and strategic partnerships with Suncor Energy and FortisBC in Canada, while demonstrating the viability of methane pyrolysis for large-volume decarbonization.
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C-zero is a pioneering catalytic molten-salt pyrolysis system that dissolves methane into a liquid medium, separating solid carbon and hydrogen efficiently. Having secured $34.5 million in Series A financing led by SK Gas and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, C-Zero commissioned its pilot reactor in early 2023, achieving daily hydrogen yields up to 400 kg with zero CO? emissions. The company is optimizing heat integration and exploring carbon sequestration pathways for durable graphite applications, advancing commercial readiness of molten-salt methane pyrolysis.
Hycamite leverages proprietary recyclable catalysts to drive methane splitting at 600–800 °C with energy consumption under 10 kWh/kg H?. Its modular Customer Sample Facility, Europe’s largest methane pyrolysis plant, is designed to deliver two kilotons of hydrogen and six kilotons of carbon annually. Built upon decades of University of Oulu research, Hycamite’s thermo-catalytic decomposition (TCD) attains life-cycle emissions below 1 kg CO?e/kg H? and targets rapid industrial decarbonization across chemical, steel, and cement sectors.
BASF has invested over ten years in catalytic molten metal pyrolysis research. Through partnerships with Wintershall Dea and research consortia at Karlsruhe Institute’s liquid-metal labs, BASF is testing pilot pathways to turquoise hydrogen at scale. Their approach explores high-temperature nickel and iron alloys to lower reaction thresholds, coupling hydrogen output with sequestered carbon forms that integrate seamlessly into existing chemical production chains and support circular-economy goals.
Ekona has developed the xCaliber pulsed-combustion reactor, which integrates standard balance-of-plant equipment to simplify deployment at natural gas infrastructure sites. With Natural Resources Canada funding, Ekona’s 200 kg/day pilot has demonstrated robust yields of hydrogen and market-grade carbon black while sidestepping water requirements and costly CCS. By valorizing solid carbon in tires, batteries, and construction, Ekona aims to achieve hydrogen parity with steam methane reforming and accelerate decarbonization in hard-to-abate industries.
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These six innovators are defining the future of methane pyrolysis. Their advancements in turquoise hydrogen production hold promise not only for reducing global emissions but also for enabling a sustainable energy ecosystem. By continuing to scale and refine methane pyrolysis technologies, they’re paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable hydrogen economy.
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