Hycamite Opens Europe’s Largest Methane-Splitting Plant for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production

(Hycamite) Hycamite TCD Technologies, a leader in emissions-free methane-splitting technology, opens Europe’s largest methane-splitting plant in Kokkola, Finland. Once fully operational, the nominal capacity of Hycamite’s Customer Sample Facility (CSF) will reach 2,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen and 6,000 tonnes of high-quality carbon annually.

The decarbonization capacity of the CSF can be up to 18,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year when liquefied natural gas (LNG) is used. With biomethane, the produced hydrogen is carbon negative.

“Hycamite’s CSF demonstrates the viability of the new methane-splitting technology. Hycamite will open several other methane-splitting plants in other parts of the world in the future,” says Hycamite CEO Laura Rahikka.

Hycamite’s technology decomposes large volumes of methane into its component elements, hydrogen and carbon while avoiding the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Clean hydrogen can be used as either an industrial raw material or fuel. The company’s technology requires only 13% of the energy needed to produce hydrogen via electrolysis. Using a methane feedstock, whether from geologic natural gas, biomethane or synthetic natural gas, allows production to scale up rapidly.

The new CSF is near the Hycamite headquarters and the small test facility in Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP). KIP is northern Europe’s largest ecosystem of the inorganic chemical industry, where several companies leading in the chemical and metal processing industries operate.

Hycamite uses innovative carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technology to capture the carbon in a solid form and provide it to customers as graphite and other high-value industrial-quality products. Hycamite offers a diverse and environmentally friendly carbon product portfolio, including battery-grade graphite. They provide scalable plants for large volumes and offer custom solutions tailored to specific needs, helping clients reduce emissions. Furthermore, Hycamite’s catalysts are sustainable as they are recyclable and can be produced from industrial side streams.

About Hycamite
Hycamite is a privately owned, deep tech company headquartered in Kokkola, Finland. Hycamite breaks down methane molecules using heat and its proprietary zero-emissions technology. All Hycamite products have an exceptionally low carbon footprint. Hycamite can tailor its high-value carbon products to customer needs and produce them in industrial quantities. Its methane-splitting technology is based on long-standing research in applied chemistry from the University of Oulu, Finland. READ MORE

Wärtsilä Marine and Hycamite develop cost-effective hydrogen production from liquefied natural gas (LNG) onboard vessels.

The novel system reduces greenhouse gas emissions, both carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, with LNG as fuel. If bioLNG is used, this solution will create a negative carbon footprint.

The decarbonization concept can make use of existing LNG infrastructure. In combination with Wärtsilä’s LNGPac™ fuel gas handling system, the concept enables onboard hydrogen production. This means ultimately, Wärtsilä’s flexible, multifuel engines, powered by a mixture of onboard hydrogen and LNG, will be able to reduce the ship’s CO2 and methane emissions. Alternatively, hydrogen can also be used in onboard fuel cells.

The by-product of the process is solid carbon, which can be more easily stored and handled on board, unlike post-combustion based CO2 capture and storage solutions. The carbon produced is of high quality and fit for industrial use, offering the potential for additional revenue.

The system enables companies to meet EU and International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations for 2050 with LNG fuel as baseline.

“We are investing in the development of marine fuels that can accelerate the transition to carbon-neutral shipping. The collaboration with Hycamite is an important step towards this goal. Our gas engines already run on a blend of hydrogen and LNG. The ability to produce hydrogen on board opens up interesting possibilities. It not only solves the lack of supply infrastructure, but also reduces safety risks in the storage and handling of liquid hydrogen and progressively reduces the environmental impact,” says Mathias Jansson, Wärtsilä’s director of fuel gas supply systems.

“We are delighted to be working with an established technology leader like Wärtsilä. Wärtsilä has a wealth of knowledge and experience in marine fuel gas distribution systems, and together we can make hydrogen supply and onboard storage a realistic option for the marine industry,” says Hycamite’s Founder and CEO Laura Rahikka. READ MORE