The OneSix Energy Solution
While natural gas is widely available from a wide variety of sources, OneSix Energy is initially targeting the methane produced by landfills. The decomposition of our waste produces natural gas, which is nearly all methane. Across the U.S., hundreds of landfills deal with that gas simply by burning (flaring) it. Landfills across the country are literally burning off more than enough energy to power every electric car on the road 24x7.
And that’s just the wasted-energy part of the problem. Burning all that natural gas also spews tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change.
OneSix Energy’s plan to colocate production sites and landfills captures that energy and eliminates those greenhouse gas emissions.
Methane Pyrolysis heats a methane molecule so hot that it breaks the bond between the carbon and hydrogen. The amount of energy needed to make that happen is significant.
If that energy is produced using conventional means, it only adds to our carbon footprint. Using green energy to produce hydrogen that would be used to reproduce energy is not only counterproductive, but also quite expensive.
OneSix Energy’s patented process delivers the required energy without greenhouse gas emissions…at a fraction of the cost of current methods.
Various strategies have been employed to ensure that all the methane in current conversion processes is broken down to hydrogen and carbon – and each of these current strategies is as complicated as it is expensive. This goes a long way toward explaining why this process has yet to be commercialized.
Catalyst-free processes are extremely energy-intensive and typically require outlandish temperatures to operate efficiently.
Catalysts that enable lower temperatures end up getting coated with carbon and need to be rejuvenated regularly, which increases maintenance costs.
OneSix Energy’s patented process avoids the complexity, costs, and headaches of catalysts…at temperatures that don’t require exotic materials.
The good news: the solid carbon produced by methane pyrolysis doesn’t turn into CO2, making climate change worse.
The bad news: separating the carbon from the hydrogen can be a challenge to say the least. The carbon gets everywhere, often where you don’t want it. It’s notorious for gumming up the works and causing problems and additional expense.
OneSix Energy’s patented process comes to the rescue again, by enabling the carbon to be easily separated from the hydrogen — ready for processing into valuable Carbon Black, which is used by tire and ink manufacturers.
