California-based startup Terraform Industries is making news in the energy industry. The company has developed a system called the Terraformer and it is capable in creating synthetic natural gas or “e-methane” by using sunlight, water and air. If it is successful as planned, the process can help in reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional natural gas extraction.
The Terraformer works by using three main components and these are electrolyzer powered by solar energy, direct air capture (DAC) system to extract CO2 from the air and chemical reactor to combine hydrogen as well as CO2 to produce synthetic natural gas.
The technology is not entirely new and Terraform basically claims that they have made significant improvements in reducing the costs. However, it is not true that the synthetic natural gas is less expensive than traditional natural gas. The startup is optimistic that they can reduce the cost further if the production is scaled up.
Terraform is not the only company which is in the quest to create synthetic fuels. Several other companies too are exploring similar projects amid prevailing concerns whether the approach is truly beneficial for combating climate change. Critics argue that synthetic natural gas might reduce methane emissions, but it still releases CO2 when burned and this contributes to atmospheric carbon levels.
Even though the debate is ongoing, the advancement in engineering holds some promises. Their electrolyzer produces hydrogen at a fraction of the cost compared to the existing systems. Their DAC system is more efficient than others in the market. These technologies could have broader applications beyond natural gas production, including hydrogen generation for electricity and CO2 capture for various industrial processes.
