The consortium consists of the Paris-based deep-tech fund Calderion (Audacia), the infrastructure developer Terravent, and the Oldenburg family business Wenco Family Office. According to the company, the funds are to be used for technological advancement, the introduction of additional industrial plants, and international market development. Graforce aims to expand its production capacities to meet demand from the steel, chemical, and transport sectors.
Plasma pyrolysis splits methane into hydrogen and solid carbon - without CO2
Graforce's plasma pyrolysis splits methane-containing gases – including natural gas, biogas, flare gas, and landfill gas – into hydrogen and high-purity industrial carbon. Unlike conventional steam reforming, the company claims that no CO2 emissions are produced. When using biogenic raw materials, the process is said to even enable a negative CO2 footprint, as the carbon is permanently bound. The modular plants allow decentralized production at the point of consumption. Graforce states that it not only meets but exceeds the criteria of the EU Low-Carbon Delegated Act (LC DA). At the same time, the company promises very low costs – however, no timeframe or conditions to achieve this are mentioned.
RAG Austria assists with industrial integration
Parallel to the financing round, Graforce is deepening its partnership with the Austrian energy storage company RAG Austria. It is said to support the further development of the methane plasma pyrolysis plant financially and industrially. The focus is on system optimization and industrial integration. The collaboration aims to increase plant efficiency and support the use of modular plants at locations with variable availability of renewable energies.
"By incorporating Graforce into our portfolio, Calderion strengthens its coverage of value chains for next-generation fuels that combine CO2 capture, plasma-based methane conversion, and synthetic fuels," says Vincent Brillault, founding partner of Calderion. The technology also offers natural gas producers a solution for utilizing associated methane without CO2 emissions.
Jens Rötteken, Managing Director of Terravent, wants to contribute his company's project planning expertise to scale the technology.
