Hazer Group to advance hydrogen methane pyrolysis project in Japan

Australia’s Hazer Group is to develop a clean hydrogen and graphite project in Nagoya, Japan, using methane pyrolysis.

Integrating with Chubu Electric’s LNG supply chain and infrastructure and Japanese utility Chiyoda Corporation, the project aims to produce 2,500 tonnes of clean hydrogen a year and will be designed as a scalable platform with potential to expand to meet growing demand.

Chubu Electric and Chiyoda have completed the pre-feasibility study and the project will advance with identification of a preferred site, and initial design and engineering.

Glenn Corrie, Hazer Group CEO and Managing Director, said Japan is a strategic market with extensive LNG infrastructure but limited access to carbon capture and storage options. He said its solution offers a “low cost and near-term solution for hard-to-abate sectors”.

Source: Hazer Group

Last month the group announced a global strategic alliance with engineering and technology firm KBR to accelerate commercialisation.

In a presentation, it announced how it is “disrupting a large, established CO2 intensive market,” capitalising on hydrogen as the main feedstock for ammonia and methanol production which is currently worth around 54 mtpa.

It also said the hydrogen industry is pivoting towards methane pyrolysis amid rising hydrogen demand and increasing wariness about the economics of green hydrogen.

Producing hydrogen through methane pyrolysis produces no CO2 emissions and provides a value-added solid carbon byproduct which can be used in various industries.

When combined with carbon capture and storage, it can offer negative emission possibilities.