The chemical industry combusts natural gas for heating purposes, emitting CO2 into the atmosphere. Electrification of these processes with sustainable electricity is regarded as the way forward to meet climate targets. Plasma has been identified as a platform technology that can provide heating by electric means as well as enabler to efficiently convert industrial waste gases that are currently combusted, or, more generally, low-cost feedstock, to key platform chemicals at an acceptable energy demand.
Thoriant BV will demonstrate the plasma technology on a pilot scale which is mandatory as the next step towards implementation of the plasma technology into the chemical industry. Piloting is cost intensive (CAPEX and OPEX) and goes beyond existing public/private project funding options. Access to other, larger, investment opportunities is essential and only possible by establishing a private entity. Thoriant BV will valorize these investments by licensing IP and in effect valorize the knowledge acquired at TNO, Maastricht University and Sitech Services.
Within the TTT-CT ticket the work was focused on the market validation, on bringing the business case together and we worked on the legal aspects like the head of terms.
We expect that the BV will be founded in the summer of 2024.