The conversion of methane to hydrogen and valuable hydrocarbons is becoming increasingly important due to the availability of methane and the increasing demand for these chemicals. However, there are still some challenges around this. When methane is converted to hydrogen, a large fraction of carbon remains where there is little added value, this makes the process uneconomic. Large amounts of energy are required for this and the materials used in the processes do not work optimally over time, leading to unwanted by-products.

With the CAMELEON project, our goal is to use electricity to convert methane to hydrogen and valuable ethylene. We have come up with some innovative materials of natural origin, a new type of reactor: the shock wave reactor and an electrified membrane. These will help us convert methane efficiently while extracting hydrogen. Working at high pressure, we can convert methane from natural gas pipelines to hydrogen at higher pressure to transport it to users throughout Belgium.

The Cameleon project has the potential to make a big difference by reducing CO2 emissions. Our method can eliminate up to 12 kg of CO2 emissions per kilogram of hydrogen produced, when compared to current production methods such as steam reforming. This is a significant reduction and helps us make this process more environmentally friendly.