Rapid-to-deploy clean hydrogen production, driven by combustion.
Ekona’s decarbonization solution uses established energy infrastructure and leverages existing commercial technologies.
To meet established carbon-reduction targets, we need pragmatic, economic, and near-term solutions to meet growing global demand for hydrogen, decarbonized natural gas, and greenhouse gas reductions at the scale and timing necessary to combat climate change.
Deploy the EkonaTM methane pyrolysis solution wherever there’s natural gas infrastructure
Ekona is developing a methane pyrolysis solution that brings carbon and greenhouse gas management back down to earth. Methane pyrolysis is a well-established technology for carbon manufacturing and an emerging solution for clean hydrogen production. In a pyrolysis reactor, methane is heated to very high temperatures until its chemical composition changes, and it splits into hydrogen and solid carbon. Sources of methane feedstock include conventional natural gas and renewable natural gas (biomethane) from biomass sources.
Clean Hydrogen
Lower GHG emissions than incumbent hydrogen production pathways
Low-cost
Hydrogen and carbon black co-products for attractive project economics
Scalable
Suitable for large-scale industrial applications
Versatile
Utilizes existing natural gas infrastructure
The xCaliberTM Process
At the heart of the Ekona™ solution is the xCaliber reactor, a novel methane pyrolysis platform that uses combustion to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon.
Preheated feedstock natural gas feeds into the reactor chamber where combustion products are also injected to create energy for the pyrolysis reaction. Products from the reactor discharge to downstream purification equipment for the delivery of two co-products, hydrogen and solid carbon.
Ekona’s methane pyrolysis process uses industry standard balance of plant (BOP) equipment for carbon handling, hydrogen purification, compression, and thermal energy recovery, simplifying process integration and mitigating development risk.
How does Ekona’s solution work?
Ekona’s Value Proposition
ATR: autothermal reforming | SMR: steam methane reforming | CCS: carbon capture and storage
Value proposition assumptions:
- At large-scale industrial plant capacity
- Valorizes solid carbon as co-product
- Allocates GHG emissions to both hydrogen and carbon products
- For installations in Canada
Burnaby Pilot Plant
Ekona operates a 200-kilogram-per-day pilot facility at our Burnaby facility, where we evaluate our methane pyrolysis reactors and process integration.
We are currently developing a new Gen2 xCaliber™ reactor, which will allow us to demonstrate increased capacity, higher efficiency, and commercial-grade carbon black.
Burnaby Pilot Expansion
Early Commercial Programs