Catalyst Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Energy Use for Hydrogen Production

Smart Solutions Catalyst Boosts Efficiency and Cuts Energy Use for Hydrogen Production

2025-03-21 Source: Press release Johnson Matthey 1 min Reading Time

Johnson Matthey’s catalyst Catacel SSR has the capacity to reduce energy use as well as enhance efficiency of existing steam methane reformer-based hydrogen plants.

Comparison of hydrogen production using a standard pellet and Johnson Matthey's Catacel SSR. (Source: Johnson Matthey) — Comparison of hydrogen production using a standard pellet and Johnson Matthey's Catacel SSR.
(Source: Johnson Matthey)

Johnson Matthey (JM) has unveiled new production performance data which shows the significant improvements in efficiency of existing steam methane reformer (SMR) based hydrogen plants with the use of its catalyst, Catacel SSR.

Key benefits at a glance:

15 % uprated hydrogen plant capacity

15 % reduction in SMR energy use per unit of hydrogen

5 % reduction in natural gas consumption per unit of hydrogen

Easy drop-in installation

Enhanced durability and heat transfer

Lifecycle performances of Catacel SSR in mid and large hydrogen plants have now been validated and demonstrate an increase in hydrogen output by up to 15 % with reductions in natural gas consumption per unit of hydrogen, shares the company. By reducing energy consumption and increasing feedstock efficiency, this catalyst introduces a way through which hydrogen production can be scaled more responsibly and cost effectively.

Traditional pellet catalysts are replaced with uniquely engineered structures of thin metal foils, or “fans,” coated with catalysts through a proprietary process. These fans offer a greater surface area, higher durability, and superior heat transfer, essential for high-temperature processes such as SMR. This simple drop-in solution requires no tube changeout for performance benefits, removes a bottleneck on SMR capacity and avoids more costly solutions to uprating existing hydrogen plants, adds the firm.

Catacel SSR represents a step forward in optimizing existing steam methane reforming processes, enabling producers to maximize hydrogen output while reducing energy consumption. By improving performance in a practical and scalable way, the company is supporting the industry in making more efficient use of resources.

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