As recently reported by the European Rubber Journal, the British technology startup HiiROC entered into a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo Gas to explore the deployment of its thermal plasma electrolysis technology for the production of clean hydrogen and sustainable carbon black.

Announced in a statement dated January 13, the agreement was signed earlier in 2025 and outlined several areas of collaboration between the two companies. The focus was on evaluating how HiiROC’s technology could support the decarbonization of industrial operations and energy assets operated by Tokyo Gas customers.

Under the MoU, the partners also agreed to examine potential applications for the solid carbon by-product generated by the process. This material may be assessed for use as a form of sustainable carbon black by Tokyo Gas customers or third-party industrial users. In addition, the agreement allowed for discussions around possible future investment linked to the technology and its commercialization.

Tim Davies, chief executive officer of HiiROC, said the collaboration was intended to accelerate decarbonization across energy and industrial sectors while opening new opportunities within the carbon black value chain. He noted that applying the company’s plasma-based technology in Japan could contribute to the development of lower-carbon industrial materials.

HiiROC’s process is based on thermal plasma electrolysis, which splits hydrocarbons such as methane using an electrical field generated by plasma torches. Unlike conventional pyrolysis, the process does not rely on external heat. According to the company, the technology produced hydrogen using significantly less electricity than water electrolysis and avoided direct carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition to hydrogen, the process yielded a solid carbon by-product. As part of the cooperation with Tokyo Gas, this material was set to be evaluated for its suitability in carbon black applications, potentially offering a lower-emissions alternative to conventional fossil-based carbon black used in rubber, plastics, and other industrial products.

Read the full article by ERJ.