BASF & ExxonMobil Collaborate on Methane Pyrolysis for Low-Emission Hydrogen

BASF and ExxonMobil have entered into a strategic joint development agreement to advance methane pyrolysis technology, enabling the conversion of methane (or biomethane) into hydrogen and solid carbon with no direct CO₂ emissions. The collaboration aims to leverage BASF’s decade-long reactor and process innovation work along with ExxonMobil’s scale-up capabilities to build a demonstration plant at ExxonMobil’s Baytown (Texas, USA) complex capable of producing up to 2,000 tons of low-emission hydrogen and 6,000 tons of solid carbon annually. The technology offers major advantages over traditional hydrogen production methods: it reportedly uses about five times less electrical energy than water electrolysis, requires no water, and can utilize existing natural-gas infrastructure - making it particularly attractive in regions where carbon capture and storage is impractical.

Read all about the plans of BASF & ExxonMobil in Texas.