In Finland, methane pyrolysis process developer Hycamite TCD Technologies Oy (Hycamite) has opened what it says is Europe’s largest methane-splitting plant in Kokkola, Finland. Once fully operational, the nominal capacity of Hycamite’s Customer Sample Facility will reach 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen and 6,000 tonnes of high-quality carbon annually.
The new Customer Sample Facility (CSF) is near the Hycamite headquarters and a small test facility both located in Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP).
KIP is northern Europe’s largest ecosystem of the inorganic chemical industry, where several companies leading in the chemical and metal processing industries operate.
The decarbonization capacity of the CSF can be up to 18,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year when liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used.
With biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG), or bioLNG, the produced hydrogen is carbon negative.
Hycamite’s CSF demonstrates the viability of the new methane-splitting technology. Hycamite will open several other methane-splitting plants in other parts of the world in the future, said Laura Rahikka, CEO of Hycamite.
Energy-efficient hydrogen technology
Hycamite’s technology decomposes large volumes of methane into its component elements — hydrogen and carbon — while avoiding the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.
Clean hydrogen can be used as either an industrial raw material or fuel. The company’s technology requires only 13 percent of the energy needed to produce hydrogen via electrolysis.
Using a methane feedstock — whether from geologic natural gas, biomethane, or synthetic natural gas — allows production to scale up rapidly.
Innovative CCUS
Hycamite uses innovative carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology to capture the carbon in a solid form and provide it to customers as graphite and other high-value industrial-quality products.
Hycamite offers a diverse and environmentally friendly carbon product portfolio, including battery-grade graphite.
They provide scalable plants for large volumes and offer custom solutions tailored to specific needs, helping clients reduce emissions.
Furthermore, Hycamite’s catalysts are sustainable as they are recyclable and can be produced from industrial side streams.
