Cleaner production pathways for hydrogen and carbon black
A novel methane pyrolysis platform using established energy infrastructure
Ekona’s methane pyrolysis platform is a practical, rapid-to-deploy solution for industries working to meet growing global demand for clean hydrogen and carbon black, decarbonized natural gas, and greenhouse gas reductions at the scale and timing necessary to combat climate change. We’re bringing carbon and greenhouse gas management back down to earth.
Deploy the EkonaTM methane pyrolysis solution wherever there’s natural gas infrastructure
In a pyrolysis reactor, methane is heated to very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen until its chemical composition changes, and it splits into hydrogen and solid carbon. Sources of methane feedstock include pipeline natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable natural gas (RNG) or biomethane from biomass sources.
Clean
Lower GHG emissions than incumbent hydrogen and carbon black production pathways
Low-cost
Hydrogen and carbon black co-products for attractive economics
Scalable
Suitable for large-scale industrial applications
Versatile
Utilizes existing natural gas infrastructure
The xCaliberTM Process
At the heart of the Ekona™ solution is the xCaliber reactor, a novel methane pyrolysis platform that uses combustion to convert natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon.
Preheated feedstock natural gas feeds into the reactor chamber where combustion products are also injected to create energy for the pyrolysis reaction. Products from the reactor discharge to downstream purification equipment for the delivery of two co-products, hydrogen and carbon black.
Ekona’s methane pyrolysis process uses industry standard balance of plant (BOP) equipment for carbon handling, hydrogen purification, compression, and thermal energy recovery, simplifying process integration and mitigating development risk.
Ekona's Value Proposition
EKONA HYDROGEN
Clean
Produces low-emission hydrogen, aligning with climate goals and regulations.
Low-cost
Leverages co-product carbon black and proven infrastructure for cost-effective deployment.
Scalable
Rapidly deployable at industrial scale wherever natural gas exists, compatible with current assets.
Versatile
Supplies clean hydrogen across sectors – power, mobility, chemicals, and refining – without needing new pipelines, water, or renewables.
EKONA CARBON
Clean
Delivers carbon black with significantly lower emissions, meeting sustainability and regulatory demands.
Low-cost
Attractive economics enhanced by co-product hydrogen.
Scalable
Easily integrates into current or new facilities, ready for tire, rubber, plastics, and advanced materials.
Versatile
Serves diverse markets – from tires to asphalt to water purification – and supports decarbonization via hydrogen co-product.
Commercial Use Cases
Ekona's value proposition is grounded in the ability to produce clean hydrogen and clean carbon black using existing natural gas infrastructure. To explore how this technology can be applied in real-world settings, we've developed a series of commercial use cases that examine the relationship between emissions, economics, feedstocks, and industrial-scale deployment for industrial hydrogen, low-emission fuel for industrial heat, and clean carbon black.
Industrial Hydrogen
Low-emission Fuel
Clean Carbon Black
Burnaby Pilot Expansion (Gen2)
Work on our Gen2 Burnaby Pilot is underway and will help us validate performance metrics as we work to demonstrate readiness for commercial deployment. This pilot focuses on:
- Increase capacity to 500 kilograms per day of hydrogen and 1,500 kg per day of carbon black
- Reactor performance and efficiency under sustained operation
- Expansion of our carbon handling systems for larger capacity and continuous operation
- Ongoing evaluation of carbon black quality and yield
- Hydrogen-rich syngas production and composition
Clean carbon black production is central to Ekona’s strategy. This pilot includes a state-of-the-art carbon test facility and integrated handling systems for continuous commercial-grade output. We’ve already assembled the Gen2 reactor and will integrate balance of plant and carbon handling systems as we prepare for commissioning.
Burnaby Pilot Plant (Gen1)
In 2025, we officially completed our Gen1 Burnaby Pilot project, a 200-kilogram-per-day hydrogen production platform located at our facility. The project delivered valuable technical results and insights, achieved strong hydrogen production yields, and produced carbon black of various commercial grades. It also shaped the design of Ekona’s second-generation xCaliber reactor.
Ekona’s Roadmap
Ekona has a viable technology development and go-to-market plan.
Burnaby Pilot Expansion
Gen2 xCaliber™ reactor • BOP integration • Carbon handling expansion • Pilot demonstration
Field Demonstration Programs
Commercial-ready platform • Customer validation
Early Commercial Programs
Scale-up • First customer deployments
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