On March 6 and 7, 2023, at the International LNG Congress 2023, more than 350 companies will discuss key challenges for the LNG industry, from transport and storage infrastructure to use as fuel or end-user use. Graforce will present methane electrolysis, a revolutionary technology for converting liquefied natural gas into hydrogen. This allows large natural gas users to switch to clean-burning hydrogen without changing their energy suppliers or transportation methods.

Dr. Jens Hanke, Chief Technology Officer of Graforce, said: We are not yet ready to completely abandon fossil fuels. But instead of burning LNG, LPG or natural gas, and converting it into hydrogen and solid carbon with the help of green electricity and our hydrogen fleet, the EU can still achieve its decarbonization goals.

In the modular plasma disintegration unit, a high-frequency plasma field generated by renewable electricity cracks hydrocarbons such as methane into their individual molecular components: hydrogen and solid carbon. Compared with water electrolysis, plasma splitting requires only one-fifth the energy to produce the same amount of hydrogen. A 20-megawatt unit can convert about 70,000 tons of LNG into hydrogen and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 200,000 tons per year.

Hydrogen can be used for emission-free electricity and heat generation, or in the chemical industry. This technology is also the first market-ready alternative to carbon capture storage, as CO2 is stored in the product for a long period of time.

Self-supplied combined heat and power cooperation

In January 2023, Graforce entered into a cooperation with Kawasaki Gas Turbine Europe Ltd. In the unit solution, carbon-free hydrogen is generated from biomethane, natural gas, liquefied natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas and converted to electricity by Kawasaki's hydrogen turbines. This electricity is re-used to make hydrogen in the plasma electrolysis process. Thus, the process generates CO2-free electricity and high-temperature heat. Once activated, the entire system requires no additional power.

Graforce has developed a methane electrolysis unit. Erected at LNG terminals or other decentralized locations, these units convert methane into hydrogen and solid carbon, thereby helping to decarbonize LNG/LPG. This allows large natural gas users to switch to clean-burning hydrogen without changing their energy suppliers or transportation methods.Editor / He Yurong