Decarbonisation Technology August 2025 Issue

Clean hydrogen production technology How an electrified reactor design is used to convert different feedstocks into low-carbon hydrogen, chemicals, and fuels

Lars Martiny Topsoe

S ome high-temperature chemical heat for reactions. As the world shifts from conventional fuels to e-fuels, Topsoe has developed a technology platform that offers a low-carbon alternative to conventional reforming reactors, such as those used for steam methane reforming (SMR) for high- temperature chemical conversions. T opsoe’s eREACT, which stands for Electrified Reactor, is an electrified reactor powered by renewable energy, designed to enhance the flexibility of the feedstocks used. Key advantages eREACT technology opens up new production routes, combining the use of renewable electricity and carbon capture to reform natural gas while eliminating flue gas emissions. The increased flexibility helps to minimise overall emissions associated with the production of a variety of low- carbon fuels, and it has the potential to play a significant role in the future low-carbon economy. conversions have traditionally relied on fossil fuels to generate the necessary The technology also enables producers to leverage their existing hydrocarbon infrastructure while seamlessly integrating renewable power into their production processes, tangibly supporting the global energy transition by allowing for a wider diversification of fuels. With the cost of renewable electricity decreasing rapidly, eREACT enables even existing industrial complexes to electrify their hydrogen production in a cost-effective manner.

Wide variety of applications eREACT is a highly versatile technology platform that can be used in a range of chemical conversion applications in combination with Topsoe’s other technologies. Three main applications are currently being explored: e-SAF, e-methanol, and blue hydrogen. • e-SAF: When combining CO₂ with hydrogen (produced from electrolysis) and feeding it into an eREACT, the chemical reaction known as e-reverse water gas shift (eRWGS), occurs. This creates a syngas, which can be used in Fischer- Tropsch (FT) synthesis to produce an FT wax. Producers can utilise Topsoe’s hydrocracking technology to create jet fuel from the FT wax, commonly referred to as e-SAF (a drop-in SAF produced from CO₂ and hydrogen). Using an eREACT results in a 10-12% decrease in overall power consumption for e-SAF production, since it reduces the amount of hydrogen consumed and, therefore, the power needed for electrolysis. In turn, the lower demand for hydrogen can minimise investment costs due to reduced Capex for lower capacity electrolysers, which are expensive to build. • Biomethanol: Substituting natural gas feedstock with biomethane (from a biogas plant), for the eREACT allows the production of biomethanol using Topsoe’s methanol loop technology. • Blue hydrogen: Using an eREACT in combination with carbon capture and storage (CCS) produces blue hydrogen to significantly reduce the carbon intensity of the production process. It also reduces the volume of natural gas needed by 25-30%, as the electrified steam reforming process replaces the natural gas-fired reforming used in traditional SMR processes.