Out of over 500 solutions, Graforce was recognized at Petronas Race2Decarbonise with its methane electrolysis tech (plasmalysis) in the “Gas Flaring Reduction or Elimination” bracket. The competition aims to accelerate development of low-carbon solutions and cut greenhouse gas emissions. Gas flaring results in more than 400 million tons of CO2 emissions every year.
Why did Graforce standout in its category?
Thousands of gas flares at production sites around the globe burn approximately 150 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year, thus wasting a valuable resource. Graforce’s solution Plasmalysis, on the other hand, converts methane and other hydrocarbons previously vented or flared into clean hydrogen and solid carbon, thus generating climate-neutral energy.
Using hydrogen can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thereby mitigate climate change. Graforce is the world’s first company to offer a market-ready technology to decarbonize flare gas production and dramatically reduce emissions. Since the proprietary process doesn’t produce any CO2, this technology is also the first alternative to carbon capture and storage.
In the modular plasmalysis plants, a high-frequency plasma field generated by renewable electricity splits hydrocarbons, such as methane, into their molecular components: hydrogen and solid carbon. Compared to water electrolysis, Graforce’s innovative solution plasmalysis requires only one-fifth the electrical energy to produce the same amount of hydrogen.
What does the recognition mean for Graforce?
“Europe accounts for only 2% of global routine gas flaring, but the European Union is considering regulation to end routine flaring and venting,” said Dr. Jens Hanke, CTO, Graforce.
“Being recognized in this competition proves that flare gas plasmalysis is an excellent solution in line with methane emission regulation. Moreover, the EU can achieve its decarbonization targets if flare/landfill gas, LNG, LPG or natural gas are no longer burned, but converted into hydrogen and solid carbon powered with green electricity in our hydrogen plants.”
