A European research project has successfully demonstrated a new technology that converts biogas into renewable hydrogen and solid carbon, offering energy managers another potential route to decarbonisation while supporting long-term carbon storage.
The Horizon Europe-funded TITAN project is approaching completion after four years of research, having validated a process that uses microwave energy to convert raw biogas into hydrogen-rich gas and stable carbon materials. The technology has now reached Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5), proving stable operation under conditions representative of commercial biogas streams.
The project aims to address two major energy transition challenges simultaneously: reducing emissions from hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as agriculture while increasing Europe’s supply of renewable hydrogen for industry, transport and energy applications.
Unlike conventional production methods, the TITAN process combines multiple reaction stages into a single system, reducing the need for additional gas treatment and separation. During testing, the technology achieved methane conversion rates of more than 85% while maintaining consistent performance across repeated operating cycles.
For organisations investing in energy resilience and low-carbon infrastructure, the economic findings are particularly noteworthy. Researchers estimate that large-scale facilities could produce hydrogen for around €4.50 per kilogram, falling to approximately €3.90/kg in locations with low-cost electricity. The project also found the process to be significantly more electricity efficient than water electrolysis, producing between 51 and 57 grams of hydrogen per kilowatt-hour compared with around 20 grams per kilowatt-hour using conventional electrolysis.
Alongside hydrogen production, the process generates an iron-carbon material that could provide additional sustainability benefits. Testing found no significant negative effects on soil organisms, while carbon tracing studies indicated the material remains stable over long periods, highlighting its potential for long-term carbon sequestration.
Looking ahead, the TITAN consortium believes the technology could enable production of up to 600,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually by 2030, rising to almost four million tonnes per year after 2045. Cumulative greenhouse gas savings are estimated to reach 237 million tonnes of CO₂ over the same period.
Project coordinator Dr David Farrusseng said the results demonstrate that biogas can play “a broader role in Europe’s energy transition,” providing a strong foundation for future commercial scale-up.
For those evaluating future hydrogen strategies, the project highlights how existing biogas resources could support both renewable fuel production and carbon reduction objectives, provided supportive regulatory frameworks continue to develop.
Photo by Adrian Infernus on Unsplash
