Ekona receives $590,000 from CICE for carbon management project
Ekona’s novel methane pyrolysis platform uses pulsed combustion and high-speed gas dynamics to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon. How we capture and utilize the solid carbon we produce is a critical consideration as we scale production.
The BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) is investing $590,000 in Ekona as part of a $4.2 million investment in seven BC climate tech companies, selected from 79 applicants to CICE’s July 2024 Call for Innovation (read the announcement). Founded in October 2021, CICE is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that helps fund the commercial development and scaling of made-in-BC clean energy solutions – from Canada to the world – to accelerate decarbonization.
CICE selected Ekona for the way we are disrupting clean hydrogen production with cost-effective solutions that convert carbon waste into catalysts for economic growth and emissions reduction. CICE’s investment will directly benefit solid carbon management activities at Ekona, including the expansion of our collaborations with third-party testing labs; the ongoing evaluation of the carbon content, purity, structure, and morphology of our carbon black; and application-focused initiatives for our carbon, including in soil remediation and construction materials.
Commercialising the solid carbon is a key strategy for Ekona and drives the economics of our value proposition in two important ways:
- Solid carbon is easier and less costly to manage. Many hydrogen production processes produce carbon dioxide and require expensive carbon capture and storage solutions to mitigate emissions. Ekona’s clean hydrogen production platform doesn’t need CCS and brings carbon and greenhouse gas management back down to earth.
- Solid carbon adds economic and environmental value, not cost. Ekona’s solid carbon represents a revenue stream that strengthens the economics of our hydrogen production platform. It also provides an opportunity to lower the GHG intensity and cost of solid carbon production, algining cost performance and sustainability.
“This project will enhance Ekona’s testing capabilities by improving our solid carbon capture process equipment; help us evaluate and improve our carbon quality; and explore practical carbon applications to deliver deep GHG reductions,” says Ekona CEO, Chris Reid. “We are thankful for CICE’s ongoing support in helping us address critical challenges for decarbonizing natural gas in the energy transition.”
Learn more about CICE’s funding for our project: https://cice.ca/projects/solid-carbon-development/
