Preliminary Performance Comparisons of Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming of Natural Gas with Low CO2 Emissions

The document compares natural gas-based hydrogen production methods, finding that ATR with carbon capture and storage (CCS) can achieve significantly higher carbon reduction rates (96-98%) than standard SMR (50-65%), though it requires more power for oxygen production. It estimates the cost of ATR-produced hydrogen at approximately $1.38/kg based on a US Gulf Coast scenario.

• Auto-Thermal Reforming (ATR) with carbon capture and storage (CCS) can achieve carbon emission reductions of 96-98%, which is substantially higher than the 50-65% capture rate typical for SMR plants that only capture process CO2.
• Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) can reach 90% carbon capture if post-combustion amine scrubbing technology is applied to the reformer flue gas, though this pathway may be less economical.
• ATR has higher power requirements than SMR because it needs an air separation plant (ASU) to produce oxygen; consequently, its total carbon footprint is sensitive to the carbon intensity of the electricity grid.
• Compared to water electrolysis, ATR CCS generally has a lower carbon intensity unless the electricity used for electrolysis is extremely low-carbon (below 20 to 30 lb CO2/Mwhr).
• A preliminary economic estimate for an ATR CCS plant located on the US Gulf Coast suggests a required hydrogen selling price of approximately $1.38/kg or $10.18/MMBTU (HHV).
• The HyNet project in the UK is identified as the most advanced ATR CCS merchant hydrogen plant under development, with an overall CO2 capture rate of 97% and a thermal efficiency of 84.7% (excluding purchased power).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2021). Preliminary Performance Comparisons of Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming of Natural Gas with Low CO2 Emissions. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CATF_ZCFHensleyMemo_Proof_07.16.21-1.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Preliminary Performance Comparisons of Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming of Natural Gas with Low CO2 Emissions. 2021. https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CATF_ZCFHensleyMemo_Proof_07.16.21-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Preliminary Performance Comparisons of Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming of Natural Gas with Low CO2 Emissions |date=July 2021 |url=https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CATF_ZCFHensleyMemo_Proof_07.16.21-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2021preliminary, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Preliminary Performance Comparisons of Hydrogen Production by Auto-Thermal Reforming and Steam Methane Reforming of Natural Gas with Low CO2 Emissions}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2021}, month = jul, url = {https://www.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CATF_ZCFHensleyMemo_Proof_07.16.21-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }