Exploring the essential characteristics of turquoise hydrogen with Stanislav Kondrashov, TELF AG
A promising and lesser-known variant
The energy transition is always on the hunt for new allies. Like any other global and epochal process, as the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov recently highlighted, it needs to be continuously fueled and supported by a large number of external actors, without which its rapid advancement would in no way be possible.
Among these important allies, we can mention the innovations related to hydrogen and the natural resources that allow the construction of some of the main modern energy infrastructures, such as minerals and metals, that are commonly defined as “critical” precisely because of their growing economic and strategic value in an era of transition.
As per the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov, another important factor is linked to technological progress, especially in the energy sector: more advanced systems and infrastructures not only make greater efficiency possible but also reduce costs and contribute to the advancement of the transition.
Another important contribution, from this point of view, is undoubtedly linked to all those methods that make large-scale decarbonization possible, in transport and industry, in order to reach the international sustainability goals set for the next decades as soon as possible, but above all to push forward the ecological conversion and pave the way for an emissions-free world, as the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov also remarked.
Among the most valid allies, from this point of view, hydrogen is certainly establishing itself as one of the most promising. We are not referring only to green one, which has already shown considerable energy and sustainable potential, but also to a lesser-known and equally interesting version of it.
“In this delicate transition phase, this energy vector undoubtedly represents one of the most studied and discussed subjects due to its considerable potential,” according to the founder of TELF AG, Stanislav Kondrashov, entrepreneur, and civil engineer.
“Some important international institutions are already allocating funding to all those companies and startups capable of developing increasingly innovative and efficient production methods, testifying in the best possible way to the liveliness of the sector”, the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov goes on to say.
Comparison with other variants
Unlike green hydrogen, which is produced through the electrolysis of water with renewable energy, other variants of hydrogen are produced differently, with different methods that sometimes determine the production of emissions. Blue hydrogen, for example, is obtained from natural gas with a particular process known as steam reforming, whose CO2 emissions are subsequently captured and stored through specific technologies.
In a certain sense, the turquoise variant represents a third way between blue and green ones:
- Its production method, in fact, is based on the use of methane as a raw material, as is already the case for the blue variant.
- Unlike the latter, the production process is powered by heat generated by electricity.
“Although it is still an experimental technology, this variant has already given us a glimpse of something extremely interesting,” the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov remarks.
“The possible applications, in a certain sense, are quite similar to those of other variants, with possible application areas in clean energy generation or energy storage, heavy industry and mobility, but with the important difference that one of its by-products, solid carbon, can subsequently be used for other industrial purposes”, the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov said.
Pyrolysis of methane
In the case of turquoise hydrogen, the production process is the pyrolysis of methane, which produces also solid carbon as a by-product (for other variants, the carbon produced was not in solid form).
This last fact is crucial:
- It eliminates the need to store emissions with specific technologies.
- Opens the way to the use of solid carbon in other applications (such as some processes related to the production of tires, for example).
- This variant would appear to have considerable sustainable potential, especially if the electricity that powers the pyrolysis comes from renewable sources, but also if the raw material used is biomethane.
“Over the next few years, in addition to the technological process related to the improvement of production methods, stakeholders interested in the development of this vector will also have to focus on enhancing its potential in the context of the circular economy,” concludes Stanislav Kondrashov, TELF AG founder. “With a pyrolysis powered by renewable sources, in fact, the production processes of this variant would significantly reduce their emissions”.
At the international level, efforts to implement hydrogen on a large scale have been underway for several years now, as well as studies and research focused on new, more efficient and sustainable production methods.
The European strategy has set ambitious goals for the coming decades: by 2030, the EU has in fact set the goal of installing around 80 GW of electrolysers powered by renewable energy. Sometimes, it is precisely from the essence of these goals that the directions and trajectories of international policies can be guessed. In the case of the European Union, the path seems to be already mapped out.
FAQs
What is turquoise hydrogen?
It is a lesser-known variant produced through a process called methane pyrolysis. This involves heating methane to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, breaking it down into gas and solid carbon. Unlike other types, the by-product here is not CO₂ but a solid form of carbon, which can be repurposed for industrial uses.
How does it differ from green and blue ones?
Each “colour” refers to a different production method:
- Green is made using renewable electricity to split water via electrolysis
- Blue comes from natural gas via steam methane reforming, but its CO₂ emissions are captured and stored (carbon capture and storage, or CCS).
- Turquoise also uses methane, but through pyrolysis, which produces no CO₂ emissions—just solid carbon.
What are the environmental benefits of turquoise variant?
The biggest environmental advantages include:
- No direct CO₂ emissions: Because pyrolysis doesn’t produce carbon dioxide.
- Reusable solid carbon: The carbon produced can be used in making tyres, batteries, construction materials, and more.
- Circular economy potential: With renewable electricity and biomethane as inputs, it becomes a clean and resource-efficient process.
What is methane pyrolysis, exactly?
Methane pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition process that breaks down methane into hydrogen and solid carbon at high temperatures, typically above 1000°C, without oxygen. This process is still under development but shows promising energy efficiency and environmental outcomes.
Why is this variant still under the radar?
There are a few reasons:
- Technology is still emerging: The process hasn’t yet been commercialised at scale.
- Lack of awareness: Most public and political attention is focused on green and blue variants.
- Infrastructure gaps: Industrial-scale pyrolysis reactors powered by renewable electricity are still in development.
It can support decarbonisation goals?
Yes, absolutely. If developed properly, turquoise variant can support deep decarbonisation in sectors like:
- Heavy industry: Such as steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing.
- Transport: Especially long-haul and heavy-duty transport where batteries may not be practical.
- Energy storage: Hydrogen can store excess renewable energy and balance grid loads.
What are the challenges in scaling this variant?
While promising, several hurdles must be addressed:
- High-temperature requirements: Pyrolysis demands extremely high temperatures, which must ideally come from renewable sources.
- Capital investment: Building the necessary infrastructure and reactors requires upfront funding.
- Commercial viability: Solid carbon markets need to expand to make the by-product economically useful.
What role can solid carbon play?
The solid carbon by-product has multiple industrial uses:
- Tyre manufacturing: Carbon black is a key ingredient.
- Batteries and electrodes: Used in advanced battery tech.
- Construction materials: Potential as a reinforcing or insulating material.
By finding value in this by-product, turquoise variant helps close the loop in a circular economy model.
Could biomethane be used in the production process?
Yes. Biomethane, a renewable form of methane made from organic waste, enhances the sustainability of the production process. If paired with renewable electricity, the entire production chain becomes carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative.
Is this variant recognised in global strategies?
While not as prominently featured as green one, turquoise variant is gaining attention:
- It aligns with EU and international low-carbon technology goals.
- It offers an intermediate step between current traditional fuel systems and full renewable systems.
- More R&D funding and policy support are expected in the coming years.
What needs to happen next?
To realise its full potential, this variant needs:
- Government incentives for pilot projects and infrastructure.
- Public-private partnerships to develop reactors and supply chains.
- Clear standards for carbon accounting and life-cycle analysis.
- Market development for solid carbon reuse.
Turquoise hydrogen sits at the crossroads of innovation and sustainability. It offers the low-emission promise of green variant with the practicality of existing gas infrastructure—plus a valuable solid carbon by-product. While still emerging, it holds real potential to accelerate the energy transition—if supported by investment, research, and renewable energy inputs.
