Graphitic Energy, formerly known as C-Zero, has commissioned its first at-scale pilot plant at the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI) in San Antonio, Texas. The state-of-the-art facility showcases the company’s innovative methane pyrolysis technology. It converts natural gas into hydrogen (H₂) and solid graphitic carbon.
Production Capacity and Operational Timeline
The pilot plant can produce several hundred kilograms of H₂ and up to 1,000 kilograms of solid carbon per day. Designed for continuous 24/7 operations, the facility will run through the end of 2025.
Scaling Up for Commercial Deployment
Graphitic Energy aims to achieve two key objectives with this pilot plant. “First, we are gathering scale-up data to design commercial-scale plants. Second, we are producing large volumes of carbon for our carbon offtake partners,” said Dr. Patrick Hanks, Chief Technology Officer of Graphitic Energy.
Low-Emission, Cost-Effective Hydrogen Production
Graphitic’s methane pyrolysis process emits virtually no direct carbon dioxide (CO₂), consumes minimal electricity, and scales efficiently. A single process train can produce up to 100,000 metric million tons per year (MMtpy) of H₂.
Unlike other clean hydrogen solutions, Graphitic’s process remains cost-competitive without government subsidies. This allows the company to profitably deliver both H₂ and graphite at current market prices. As reported by hydrocarbonprocessing.com, the technology can be deployed anywhere natural gas or LNG are available. It eliminates the need for renewable electricity or geological CO₂ sequestration.
Enhancing Energy Security and Domestic Supply Chains
Graphitic Energy’s CEO and Co-Founder, Zach Jones, emphasized the company’s role in strengthening American energy security.
“The world has been waiting for an energy transition, but it already happened during the fracking revolution of the 2010s. The U.S. leads in natural gas production, one of the cheapest and greenest fuels available,” he stated.
Jones added, “Our innovation makes it even cleaner by extracting carbon as solid graphite, a critical mineral for batteries and nuclear reactors. Meanwhile, the hydrogen we produce can support domestic demand of over 10 MMtpy, primarily in refining and ammonia production.”
Strong Investor Support for Expansion
Graphitic Energy recently secured a $15 million extension to its Series A funding, as reported by hydrocarbonprocessing.com. This brings total investment to over $65 million. Investors include Energy Capital Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Trafigura.
Vic Pascucci, Co-Founder and Managing General Partner of Energy Capital Ventures, stated, “Driving down clean energy costs is key to global adoption, and Graphitic Energy is on the right path. Their expertise in pyrolysis and the broader hydrogen economy makes them a game-changing leader in the green molecules energy transition”.
Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Energy Ventures mentioned, “We have invested in Graphitic Energy three times since 2020 because we believe in their ability to scale this breakthrough technology. Their approach strengthens domestic supply chains, enhances energy security, and provides a cost-effective route to clean hydrogen—this is a game changer for the industry and the climate”.
