C-Zero is a hard-tech startup whose mission is to decarbonize natural gas. C-Zero’s technology, which was initially developed at the University of California Santa Barbara, uses high temperatures to split methane - the primary molecule in natural gas and renewable natural gas- into hydrogen and solid carbon in a process known as methane pyrolysis. C-Zero’s hydrogen can be used to decarbonize a wide range of industries including ammonia production, gasoline and diesel fuel, electric generation, process heat, and fuel cell vehicles.
![hero-czero.jpg hero-czero.jpg](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/hero-czero.jpg.rend.500.700.jpg)
![infografica-czero.jpg infografica-czero.jpg](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/infografica-czero.jpg.rend.300.650.jpg)
1/1
Turn your smartphone and discover more
![logo-ucsb.jpg logo-ucsb.jpg](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/timeline/logo-ucsb.jpg.rend.245.245.jpg)
Research on methane pyrolysis
Professor Eric McFarland begins research on methane pyrolysis in his lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara
![942696884 942696884](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/timeline/next-timeline-2020.jpg.rend.245.245.jpg)
Eni Invests in C-Zero
Eni, along with Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and AP Ventures, invests in C-Zero.
![2023-Xytel_1094_Pilot_Plant.jpg 2023-Xytel_1094_Pilot_Plant.jpg](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/timeline/2023-Xytel_1094_Pilot_Plant.jpg.rend.245.245.jpg)
First Pilot Plant
First large-scale demonstration of C-Zero’s technology producing hydrogen and solid carbon from natural gas.
![next-timeline-2025.jpg next-timeline-2025.jpg](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/timeline/next-timeline-2025.jpg.rend.245.245.jpg)
First Commercial unit online
C-Zero’s first commercial unit will provide enough hydrogen for 25 million kilometers of zero emission heavy duty truck transport per year.
![1185126266 1185126266](/assets/images/eninext/portfolio/c-zero/timeline/next-timeline-2028.jpg.rend.245.245.jpg)
World Scale Plant Built
C-Zero’s first world scale plant will produce enough hydrogen to decarbonize the electricity consumption of 250,000 homes when used to power a combined cycle turbine