Breakthrough Technology Produces Renewable Natural Gas

By Admin
Share
HyperSolar, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to make renewable natural gas using solar power, announced yesterday that it has filed a...

 

 

HyperSolar, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough technology to make renewable natural gas using solar power, announced yesterday that it has filed a patent application for the production of renewable natural gas using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. This renewable natural gas is a clean, carbon neutral methane gas that can be used as a direct replacement for traditional natural gas to power the world, without drilling or fracking, while mitigating CO2 emissions.

"The sun is our greatest source of energy and a method to use this energy to make clean, renewable fuel is a very significant discovery," said Tim Young, CEO of HyperSolar. "We intend to focus all our energies and resources on commercializing this breakthrough technology."

Inspired by the photosynthetic processes that plants use to harness the power of the sun to create energy molecules, HyperSolar is developing a novel solar-powered nanoparticle system that mimics photosynthesis to separate hydrogen from water. The free hydrogen can then be reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane, the primary component in natural gas.

"With global consumption projected to surpass coal in 2035, natural gas will be the next great fuel," continued Mr. Young. "From sunrise to sunset, our proprietary nanoparticles will work in a water based solution to produce clean and environmentally friendly renewable natural gas that can be collected for later use in power plants, industrial plants and vehicles - anywhere and anytime. With hundreds of billions of dollars already invested in natural gas infrastructure and trillions more dollars on the way, we believe natural gas as a primary fuel is a reality. However, the environmental risks associated with the extraction and usage of conventional natural gas is also a reality."

SEE OTHER TOP STORIES IN THE ENERGY DIGITAL CONTENT NETWORK

Hydropower Turbines to Protect Ecosystems

Chevy's Carbon Reduction Projects

November's issue of Energy Digital has gone live!

With hundreds of billions of dollars already invested in natural gas infrastructure and trillions more dollars on the way, natural gas as a primary fuel is a reality. However, the environmental risks associated with the extraction and usage of conventional natural gas is also a reality.

Using advanced nanotechnology, HyperSolar intends to eliminate the harmful aspects of extracting natural gas and preserve its existing delivery infrastructure and economy by fundamentally changing the source of natural gas from underground to above ground. The company intends to do this by creating natural gas above ground using sunlight, water and carbon dioxide, in a renewable and sustainable manner.

For almost a century, scientists have tried and failed to “split water” cost effectively to produce hydrogen and oxygen. This process does not produce oxygen (O2), which has no significant value and is an expensive and slow reaction. Unlike conventional electrolysis, where hydrogen and oxygen atoms are completely disassociated using a large voltage, these reactions use a very small voltage and only produce hydrogen (H2). By elegantly engineering the reaction kinetics toward H2 generation in conjunction with wastewater, the nanoparticles function as one-way machines that detoxify wastewater, and produce clean water and pure hydrogen in the presence of sunlight. No other energy source is required, making this an extremely economical and commercially viable approach to hydrogen production. The free hydrogen can then be reacted with carbon dioxide to produce methane.

 

Edited by Carin Hall

 

DOWNLOAD THE ENERGY DIGITAL IPAD APP

Share

Featured Articles

Is AI Data Centre Thirst Contributing to Mass Energy Waste?

Data centres supporting AI boom, they face crucial water use challenges, pushing for new sustainable cooling solutions

How Could the EU Omnibus Impact Energy's Sustainable Future?

Businesses & politicians voice concerns for sustainability over the European Commission’s upcoming omnibus package & its regulation simplification aims

Why is Equinor Halving Renewables Spend & Growing Oil & Gas?

Equinor is halving its investment in renewable energy over the next two years in favour of increasing oil and gas production

Could Trump's Tariffs Trump's Spark an Energy Trade War?

Sustainability

Q&A with Michael Deighton, SVP Operations at Kent

Sustainability

Chevron and GE Vernova: Tackling AI's Energy Challenges

Technology & AI