Hypersonic Technologies is turning methane into hydrogen and carbon black

What happened

Hydrogen is expected to play a larger role in helping industries cut emissions, but conventional production methods can leave a significant carbon footprint. Chennai-based deeptech startup Hypersonic Technologies is betting on two revenue streams to help industrial customers offset production costs while reducing emissions.

Chennai-based Hypersonic Technologies is working on an alternative that produces hydrogen alongside carbon black, a commercially useful material used in tyres, rubber and pigments. Founded in 2023 by Jayaraman Kandasamy and Jayakumar Venkatesan, the climate-tech startup operates with staged-plasma pyrolysis to convert methane and biomethane into hydrogen and solid carbon.

Kandasamy has more than a decade of experience in Europe, where he worked on plasma technology for aerospace propulsion and explored converting biomass into fuel and hydrogen-rich gases. After returning to India, he founded Hypersonic Technologies to apply this experience to industrial decarbonisation.

Key facts

• Founded in 2023 by Jayaraman Kandasamy and Jayakumar Venkatesan, the climate-tech startup — uses: staged-plasma pyrolysis to convert methane and biomethane into hydrogen and solid carbon