ExxonMobil Technology and BASF have signed a joint development agreement to advance methane pyrolysis and prepare the technology for commercial deployment. The companies are constructing a demonstration plant at ExxonMobils Baytown Complex in Texas to validate production at scale.
Methane pyrolysis uses electricity to split natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon without generating process-related CO2 emissions. ExxonMobil and BASF describe it as a potential low-emission hydrogen pathway, particularly in regions where geological, technical or policy constraints limit carbon capture and storage.
The demonstration plant is designed to produce up to 2 000 t of hydrogen and 6 000 t of solid carbon annually.