The UK government has set an ambitious new target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 81% by 2035 compared to levels in the 1990s.
While much of the focus remains on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2), addressing methane emissions could yield faster short-term benefits. A Cambridge-based company, Levidian, believes it has a groundbreaking solution for industries that cannot entirely eliminate their methane output.
“Our Loop system uses microwave energy to split the molecules of captured methane into carbon and hydrogen,” John Hartley, Levidian’s chief executive, said.
According to the BBC, this process not only prevents methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from entering the atmosphere but also converts it into valuable resources. It is said that the hydrogen produced can serve as a clean fuel for factories, trucks, or ships.
“When you burn it, you get heat and energy, but no CO2, just water vapor,” Hartley said.
Meanwhile, the carbon extracted during the process becomes graphene, a material known for its strength, flexibility, and excellent conductive properties.
According to Ellie Galanis, Levidian’s director of commercial development, graphene has transformative potential across industries.
“A tiny amount of it in everyday things can make a huge difference,” Galanis said.
Scientifically, the uses of graphene are vast and varied. Adding it to rubber treads in tires can make them lighter, longer-lasting, and more fuel-efficient. When incorporated into concrete, it reduces the need for cement, offering an environmentally friendly alternative. Graphene-enhanced gloves for surgeons are also more resistant to tearing.
Alistair Donaldson, Levidian’s chief technology officer, highlighted a major breakthrough in their Loop system: the ability to produce high-quality graphene in large quantities.
“We’re working with product manufacturers and can supply graphene in powder, pellet, or liquid form, so they can integrate it into their processes without needing significant changes,” Donaldson said.
The company’s technology is already making an impact. Levidian has installed its Loop system at various test sites worldwide, including Worthy Farm, the venue for the Glastonbury Festival, where methane from cow slurry is converted into graphene and hydrogen. Another notable project, supported by £3 million in government funding, will see the Loop system transform methane from wastewater biogas in collaboration with United Utilities.
David Reiner, a professor of technology policy at Cambridge Judge Business School, explained that reducing methane emissions is crucial to meeting the UK’s climate targets.
“Levidian is tackling the harder part of the puzzle by removing emissions, not just reducing them. These technologies need government incentives to accelerate their adoption,” Reiner said.
While solutions like electric vehicles and heat pumps have been central to emission reduction strategies, technologies like Levidian’s Loop are paving the way for tackling methane emissions directly.
