Baytown Methane Pyrolysis

ExxonMobil is developing a methane pyrolysis technology in partnership with BASF that thermally splits methane into low-emission hydrogen and solid carbon, avoiding direct CO₂ emissions. They plan to build a demonstration plant at their Baytown, Texas complex capable of producing up to 2,000 tons of hydrogen and 6,000 tons of solid carbon annually. This process uses about 5x less electricity than water electrolysis, doesn’t need water, and leverages existing natural gas infrastructure, making it attractive for regions where carbon capture & storage is less feasible.