Einsted, an Argentina-based cleantech company founded in 2019, has developed technology that utilizes cold plasma generated by renewable electricity to split methane into hydrogen and graphene. This process is much more energy-efficient compared to traditional water electrolysis, as it only requires one fifth of the energy to produce the same amount of hydrogen.
Challenges: hydrogen fuel
Hydrogen (H₂), the most abundant element in the universe, is not just a fundamental building block of stars—it's also a vital ingredient in the synthesis of ammonia. Ammonia production is at the heart of creating a plethora of products that we rely on daily, from the fertilizers that nourish our crops to the plastics that are woven into the fabric of modern life.
Traditionally, the world has leaned heavily on steam methane reforming (SMR) to produce over 60 million tons of hydrogen annually. However, this method comes with a significant environmental cost. It's an energy-intensive process that contributes approximately 2% to the global carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) emissions, releasing between 5 and 9 tons of COâ‚‚ for every ton of hydrogen it generates.
Hydrogen produced in remote SMR plants needs large-scale storage and transportation. On-site hydrogen production eliminates this need, thus reducing costs, enhancing safety, benefiting the environment, and providing a reliable and efficient solution for industries and applications that require a steady supply of high-purity hydrogen. On-site hydrogen production is likely to become even stronger by integrating with renewable energy sources.
Einsted Technology
Einsted has developed an on-site hydrogen production method that converts methane (CHâ‚„) into hydrogen (Hâ‚‚) and graphene using nano-pulsed plasma. Generated by renewable electricity, the nano-pulsed plasma located between a cathode and an anode is able to activate and dissociate methane molecules. The nano-pulsed plasma reactor operates under room temperature and atmospheric pressures, providing distinct advantages over thermal pyrolysis technology and low pressure microwave plasma technology. This innovative cold plasma technology offers a remarkable reduction in energy consumption and operational expenses, making it possible to produce hydrogen at a more affordable price.
How Einsted generates hydrogen from methane
The diagram below depicts Einsted's nano-pulsed plasma pyrolysis reactor, which is used to convert methane into hydrogen and solid carbon.
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