Ebara, a Tokyo-based machinery manufacturer, is developing a novel technology for producing “turquoise” hydrogen. Normally, hydrogen generation is carbon-intensive, but Ebara’s technique will use methane rather than fossil fuels.
As a consequence, a possibly emissions-free version of the solid carbon-producing fuel might emerge. Carbon black is used to harden tires, while carbon fibers are used in automobiles and airplanes. Ebara plans to begin large-scale experiments in the spring of 2023 and aims to have the method commercialized by 2026.
The study, which saw Ebara collaborate with the National Institute for Materials Science, Shizuoka University, and materials manufacturer Taiyo Koko, was funded by the government-backed New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization.
