Skoltech researchers have found a way to produce hydrogen from natural gas with 45% efficiency right in the gas field by injecting steam and a catalyst into a well and adding oxygen to ignite the gas. Catalyst-assisted combustion produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from which the latter can be easily extracted. This technology will help accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean hydrogen power. The study was published in Fuel.
Yeah, something about this screams at me it’s not right.
Why wouldn’t this work? What would go wrong?
Producing hydrogen from natural gas still releases carbon in to the air.
…which is the whole reason for doing the SMR within the natural reservoir and leaving the CO2 in there.