First methane pyrolysis plant inaugurated in Zug: Milestone for a climate-neutral industry
Zug, 30.11.2025 — The Association for the Decarbonization of Industry (VZDI) and its partners today inaugurated a unique methane pyrolysis plant on the V-ZUG production site. The innovative plant is the result of a visionary collaboration between 16 leading companies and Empa, supported by the canton of Zug. It was realized with investments of over CHF 8 million and marks a significant step toward Swiss industry's net-zero targets for 2050.
Methane pyrolysis is an innovative technology in which methane (CH₄), the main component of natural gas and biogas, is broken down in a microwave-generated plasma. This produces hydrogen (H₂) and solid carbon (C(s)). In this way, methane can be used for energy without its carbon content being released into the atmosphere as CO₂. The resulting (solid) carbon can also be used as a raw material, such as carbon black, in the manufacture of tires, batteries, or adhesives and sealants. Another option is to integrate this carbon into concrete or asphalt as a long-term CO₂ sink.
The industrial pilot plant now inaugurated in Zug will save around 240 tons of CO₂ annually and supply 22 tons of hydrogen. The hydrogen from the pilot plant will be used directly as a climate-friendly energy source in V-ZUG's enameling furnace, replacing fossil natural gas. This will enable V-ZUG to gradually decarbonize its enameling plant, the last remaining source of CO2 emissions.
Project partners and funding
The project was initiated and coordinated by the VZDI. Key partners include Empa as a research partner, the companies Accelleron, AVAG, AMAG, Holcim, Metall Zug, Partners Group, Sakowin, SHL Medical, Siemens, Sika, Sulzer, Swiss Safety Center, Tech Cluster Zug, V-ZUG, VZ Depotbank, and WWZ, as well as the canton of Zug as a political supporter. The partners contribute both technical expertise and financial resources to drive sustainable change in Swiss industry. “The advantage of this approach is that it does not require any new infrastructure and can be implemented quickly worldwide,” says Christian Bach from Empa, co-initiator of the project.
But the vision goes even further: Empa researchers led by Bach have developed a novel, load-flexible methanation technology and recently implemented it in a pilot plant at Empa called move-MEGA. Combining methanation in large solar-powered plants, for instance in desert regions, with the transport of the gas via existing infrastructure and methane pyrolysis directly at the destination for industrial high-temperature applications, negative CO2 emissions can be achieved – without the need for new transport infrastructure.
Sustainability and outlook
The methane pyrolysis plant is at the heart of the VZDI's comprehensive strategy to create a circular ecosystem for the emission-free use of methane. The aim is to enable the use of renewable methane and the realization of negative emissions in addition to hydrogen production. Cooperation projects to establish a global ecosystem that is economically self-sustaining and contributes to the decarbonization of the atmosphere are also under development thanks to close collaboration between stakeholders from science, industry, and politics.
Further Information
Andreas Bittig
Association for the Decarbonization of Industry (VZDI)
info@vzdi.ch
Phone +41 79 369 22 22
Christian Bach
Empa, Chemical Energy Carriers and Vehicle Systems Laboratory
Phone +41 58 765 41 37
christian.bach@empa.ch
Editor / Media contact
Marlène Betschart
Sulzer
marlene.betschart@sulzer.com
Phone +41 79 245 24 10
Annina Schneider
Empa, Communications
Phone +41 58 765 41 07
redaktion@empa.ch