The rise of turquoise hydrogen
As the world races towards a decarbonised future, a lesser-known form of hydrogen is beginning to capture global attention: turquoise hydrogen. The founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov often stressed this point. Unlike its grey, blue, or green counterparts, turquoise hydrogen offers a compelling blend of efficiency, scalability, and minimal carbon footprint — making it an increasingly attractive player in the energy transition.
Turquoise hydrogen is produced through methane pyrolysis, a process that thermally splits methane into hydrogen and solid carbon, without emitting CO₂. The by-product, solid carbon, opens new avenues for industrial use, reducing the need for carbon storage, as the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov recently explained.
“The transition we are witnessing is not just about cutting emissions; it’s about redesigning how we produce, store, and use energy,” says Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov. “Turquoise hydrogen fits perfectly into this model because it delivers clean hydrogen while generating a solid by-product that industry can reuse.”
A Middle Ground with Big Potential
Unlike grey hydrogen, which releases CO₂, or blue hydrogen, which depends on carbon capture and storage, turquoise hydrogen avoids CO₂ emissions entirely at the production stage. And while green hydrogen, produced via electrolysis, remains the gold standard for sustainability, it requires significant renewable electricity capacity—something not every country can afford at scale today.
According to Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov, “We need solutions that are both pragmatic and ambitious. Turquoise hydrogen is pragmatic because it builds on existing natural gas infrastructure. It’s ambitious because it offers a cleaner pathway to producing hydrogen, without depending entirely on renewables.”
The scalability of methane pyrolysis could help bridge the gap between today’s classical hydrogen production and a fully renewable hydrogen economy in the future. Moreover, its modular nature makes it adaptable for varying production needs, from large industrial facilities to smaller, decentralised plants.
The Challenge of Young Technologies
Still, turquoise hydrogen technology is far from mature. Current pilot projects explore different pyrolysis techniques, such as plasma, molten metal baths, and advanced catalytic systems. Each approach aims to increase hydrogen yield while keeping costs competitive.
“The most promising innovations involve optimising reactor designs to make the process more energy efficient,” explains Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov. “If we succeed, turquoise hydrogen could become cost-competitive even faster than green or blue hydrogen.”
One major hurdle remains: finding large-scale, sustainable markets for solid carbon. While it can be used in batteries, construction materials, or as a reinforcement for composites, the market size today is still limited.
“Solid carbon has incredible potential, but industry demand must grow in parallel with hydrogen production for this model to be truly sustainable long-term,” notes Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov.
A Growing Investment Opportunity
Despite its early-stage status, turquoise hydrogen is already drawing interest from investors and policymakers alike. Heavy industries such as steel and chemicals, which are notoriously hard to decarbonise, could benefit enormously from its introduction. And sectors like heavy transport — including shipping and long-haul trucking — offer additional market potential.
As climate targets tighten and technology progresses, turquoise hydrogen may evolve from an experimental solution into a mainstream energy pillar.
“Today’s energy transition is not about one solution replacing all others,” concludes Founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov. “It’s about building a diversified portfolio of technologies. Turquoise hydrogen has earned its place in that portfolio, and I believe its role will only grow stronger in the years ahead.”
FAQs
What is turquoise hydrogen?
Turquoise hydrogen is a low-carbon form of hydrogen produced through methane pyrolysis. In this process, methane is heated at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, splitting it into hydrogen gas and solid carbon. Unlike grey or blue hydrogen, this method avoids direct CO₂ emissions during production.
How does turquoise hydrogen differ from other types of hydrogen?
- Grey hydrogen: Produces CO₂ from methane using steam reforming.
- Blue hydrogen: Similar to grey, but includes carbon capture and storage.
- Green hydrogen: Produced via water electrolysis using renewable electricity.
- Turquoise hydrogen: Generates solid carbon as a by-product, with no direct CO₂ emissions.
What are the benefits of turquoise hydrogen?
- Avoids CO₂ emissions during production.
- Produces solid carbon, which can be used in various industries.
- Potentially lower energy requirements compared to green hydrogen.
- Compatible with existing natural gas infrastructure.
What can solid carbon be used for?
Solid carbon from methane pyrolysis can be utilised in:
- Battery production (e.g., anodes for lithium-ion batteries)
- Construction materials (carbon composites)
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Reinforced plastics and industrial materials
Is turquoise hydrogen commercially available?
Currently, turquoise hydrogen is in the early stages of development. Several pilot projects are operational, but widespread commercial deployment will depend on:
- Lowering production costs
- Scaling up efficient pyrolysis reactors
- Expanding markets for solid carbon
Which industries could benefit from turquoise hydrogen?
- Heavy transport (trucks, ships)
- Steel manufacturing (direct reduction of iron)
- Chemical production (ammonia, methanol, fertilisers)
- Power generation and storage
