To become independent of Russian natural gas imports by 2027, the European Union is increasing near-term imports of US or Azerbaijan liquefied natural gas (LNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The main element of LNG, methane, is the second leading greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Environmental organisations warn that long-term supply contracts for the fossil LNG will undermine the European Green Deal.

German company Graforce has developed a methane electrolysis technology (plasmalysis) that uses LNG or LPG to produce hydrogen and solid carbon for dioxide-free energy generation. Compared to water electrolysis, plasmalysis requires only one fifth the energy to produce the same amount of hydrogen.

Plasmalysis is an electro-chemical technology that converts incoming LNG/LPG into clean-burning hydrogen and solid, high-purity carbon. A high-frequency plasma field generated by renewable electricity splits energy-rich hydrocarbon compounds (10kWh/kg H2) into hydrogen and solid carbon. This can be sequestered long-term in steel, cement or for soil enhancement.

“The EU can still achieve its decarbonisation targets if LNG or LPG is not burned but rather converted into hydrogen and solid carbon using green electricity and our hydrogen plants directly at the terminal or at decentralised locations,” said Dr Jens Hanke, CTO of Graforce.

Graforce has already built two demonstration plants – in Berlin and Brandenburg. Three additional projects with renowned investors will be completed by the end of this year: a Methane Plasmalyzer® for decarbonising natural gas and producing solid carbon in an Austrian refinery, and two for carbon dioxide-free heat and energy generation in a hotel and a 40,000 square metre urban district in Germany.