The project entails a pilot plant to test the University of British Columbia’s patented pyrolysis technology using molten metals for low-cost, low emission hydrogen production from natural gas. The project will focus on building a pilot plant that can produce hydrogen and carbon black in a continuous mode and will be tested on-site at ATCO.

It is expected that the project will be cost-competitive with steam methane reforming, not use water, and not rely on low-cost, low-emissions electricity supply to deliver low-carbon hydrogen.

As carbon handling is often the most challenging issue with methane pyrolysis technologies, progress from this project should also benefit similar hydrogen production technologies.

In August 2024, the project received $1.25m in funding from Canada’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources through the Energy Innovation Program.