Redefining Gas Transformation with SJE Innovation.
The global energy industry has long been a more responsible environmental steward than is commonly perceived, and nothing demonstrates that commitment more clearly than its push toward cleaner gaseous fuels. The relative density and fungibility of gases, compared with electrical power, mean clean-burning gas will continue to play a central role in energy supply for the foreseeable future. This dedication was on display at the GPA Midstream Conference recently held in San Antonio (GPA stands for the Gas Producers Association).
Of special interest to both the GPA audience and SJE is hydrogen and its place in the future energy matrix. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the known universe, and it is highly flammable. It burns without producing carbon emissions, with water being the only byproduct. The only reason hydrogen is not already the primary energy carrier globally is that it seldom exists in pure form under natural conditions. Hydrogen tends to bind to other elements — e.g. oxygen (in water), carbon (in methane), or sulfur (in hydrogen sulfide, H₂S).
SJE is already active in the “hydrogen-adjacent” space, owing to our heritage in H₂S adsorption. Natural gas (or methane) often emerges from reservoirs with sulfurous compounds (H₂S) embedded. Through relatively simple chemistry and advanced manufacturing, our solid-bed media can separate the hydrogen and sulfur, delivering methane that is free of H₂S.
Producing hydrogen itself is a newer area of interest for SJE. Methane is composed of hydrogen and carbon bonded together, so by applying heat and pressure, the hydrogen–carbon bond can be broken, yielding pure hydrogen and sequestered carbon. The necessary heat and pressure can be provided in a mobile unit, so that wherever methane is present, hydrogen can be produced on site. Such mobile units are already in use globally, and SJE is developing similar units to deploy across U.S. industries — including “mobility,” which in industry parlance refers to buses and trucks. Electric cars are advancing toward mainstream adoption, but electrifying semis or urban commercial fleets is a more challenging proposition; hydrogen is critical to achieving commercial mobility without reliance on gasoline, diesel, or compressed natural gas.
At the GPA conference in San Antonio, many presentations addressed natural gas, LNG (liquefied natural gas), and hydrogen from various sources. Because different energy use cases impose distinct requirements, innovators have developed processes over decades to transfer energy between domains. One such SJE process converts methane to hydrogen using steam and pressure; its value lies in its relatively low cost and mobility. Other presenters showcased different processes. One, in particular, described a scheme that consumes only water and electricity to produce LNG: electricity (ideally from a renewable source) powers water electrolysis, producing hydrogen and some excess heat. The hydrogen is compressed, while the waste heat is used in a carbon-air capture unit. Thus, from just water and electricity, the system yields hydrogen and captured carbon. These two (along with steam and additional water) are then fed into a methanation process, resulting in an LNG output from the simple input of water and power.
Such energy-fungibility projects are critical to meeting global energy demand while minimizing adverse externalities like H₂S emissions or carbon accumulation. SJE is deeply involved in developing and manufacturing these solutions, and we look forward to bringing these offerings to global markets at the most competitive prices.
