Cleaner hydrogen. Lower cost.
From natural gas and refinery off-gas to lower-cost, lower-carbon hydrogen.
Upgrade hydrogen production from natural gas, vent gas streams, and CO2-rich refinery streams using HYCO1’s breakthrough syngas technologies.
The HYCO1 Advantage
The role of on-site hydrogen in lower-carbon refinery operations.
Refineries depend on a steady, high-purity hydrogen supply to run hydrotreating and hydrocracking units, and that hydrogen almost always comes from on-site steam methane reformers. But conventional SMR catalysts leave efficiency on the table, struggle with CO2-rich or variable feed streams and face increasing pressure to reduce carbon intensity. HYCO1’s SMR+ Catalyst, part of CUBE™ Technology, drops directly into existing reformer units, delivering higher conversion efficiency, broader feedstock tolerance to heavy feeds and CO2, and lower fuel consumption without rebuilding your infrastructure.
The Clear Choice
Why HYCO1 for refinery operators:
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Feedstock Flexibility: Handles natural gas, refinery off-gas, CO2-enriched streams, and C4+ feeds including naphtha without coking, giving operators flexibility that conventional catalysts cannot match.
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Higher Conversion Efficiency: HYCO1's SMR+ Catalyst maximizes H2 yield per pass with significantly reduced methane slip, lowering fuel firing requirements and per-unit operating costs.
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Lower Carbon Intensity: More hydrogen output per unit of fuel consumed cuts Scope 1 CO2 from your reformer, supporting low-carbon fuel standards and ESG targets.
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Drop-In Upgrade Path: SMR+ installs directly into existing reformer tubes with no hardware modifications. Swap the catalyst, improve performance, extend asset life.
Why it matters
From existing assets to better economics.
- Feed Conditioning: Natural gas, refinery off-gas, or CO2-containing streams are desulfurized and conditioned ahead of the reformer. HYCO1's SMR+ Catalyst tolerates a wider range of feed compositions than conventional catalysts, including C4+ feeds such as naphtha and elevated CO2, reducing sensitivity to upstream variability.
- Catalyst Reforming: Feed enters the existing SMR loaded with HYCO1's SMR+ Catalyst. Its NiMgO solid-solution alloy surface drives superior methane conversion and activates CO2 near the tube outlet, shifting equilibrium to produce additional H2 in a single reforming pass. Consistent spherical packing minimizes pressure drop and allows feed rates to increase by up to 35% at the same ΔP.
- High-Purity Hydrogen Delivery: Syngas passes through standard shift conversion and PSA purification to deliver pipeline-quality hydrogen. Hydrotreating and hydrocracking units receive a more reliable H2 supply with lower carbon intensity per kg produced.
“Boost throughput, cut emissions, and strengthen refinery economics.”
Enabling lower-carbon hydrogen production for refineries.
Refineries run on hydrogen, and the economics of that hydrogen increasingly determine both operating margins and emissions performance. HYCO1 gives refinery operators a direct path to better SMR efficiency without capital intensive plant modifications. Whether processing clean pipeline gas or managing variable refinery off-gas streams, SMR+ Catalyst delivers measurable improvements in conversion, fuel consumption, and carbon intensity from the same reformer footprint.
From waste to wealth
Benefits of HYCO1 refinery solutions.
| Benefit | Impact |
|---|---|
| Reduce operating costs | Higher H2 yield per unit of feed and fuel lowers the cost of on-site hydrogen production across the reforming unit. |
| Lower carbon intensity | Improved conversion efficiency cuts Scope 1 CO2 per kg of H2 produced, supporting low-carbon fuel standards and ESG reporting. |
| Drop-in upgrade path | SMR+ Catalyst installs into existing reformer tubes at turnaround. No reformer modifications, no capital project, no additional lost production. |
| Resilient operation | HYCO1's SMR+ Catalyst handles feedstock variability common in refinery environments, including CO2-enriched streams, C4+ feeds such as naphtha, and wide feed rate swings. |
Our Products
One performance platform. Two catalysts.
Whether upgrading an existing reformer or building from scratch, HYCO1 has the catalyst for your path.
Drop-in Upgrade
SMR+ Catalyst
Replace your existing SMR or ATR catalyst and immediately add a second reforming reaction — boosting output without changing core infrastructure.
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Tail gas cut by over 80% — CO2 recycled into product
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Higher throughput with lower natural gas consumption
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Industry-leading crush strength — 2,200 N
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Non-coking, no carbon buildup or downtime
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Adjustable H2:CO ratio from 1.4:1 to 3.5:1
Full CO2 Utilization
CO2 Reforming Catalyst
The world's most advanced thermocatalytic CO2 conversion technology. CO2 and methane go in — high-value syngas comes out. No wells, no permits, no storage liability.
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Converts 95%+ of CO2 and CH4 to syngas onsite
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Up to 50% reduction in natural gas consumption
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Eliminates need for Class VI injection wells
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Ultra-low or negative carbon intensity scores
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Qualifies for clean fuel tax credits
How to work with us
Adopt our technology platform your way.
Whether you're upgrading an existing plant, licensing for new construction, or want us to handle everything end-to-end.
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Catalyst Swap
Already running an SMR or ATR? Drop in our SMR+ Catalyst for immediate efficiency and output gains — no major capital required.
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License & Expand
Have an existing reforming facility? License CUBE™ Technology to upgrade your current plant — improving carbon efficiency, boosting output, and debottlenecking production without starting from scratch.
03
License & Build New
Planning a greenfield project? License CUBE™ Technology and build the most carbon-efficient syngas facility on the market.
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Syngas Supply
Don't want the capital burden? HYCO1 designs, builds, owns, and operates the reformer. You receive reliable low-carbon syngas on a supply agreement.
Get Started
Ready to turn your CO2 into a competitive advantage?
Whether you want to upgrade an existing reformer or build the cleanest syngas plant on earth — our team is ready.