C-Zero
C-Zero (now Graphitic Energy) is a private deep-tech clean energy company developing proprietary methane pyrolysis technology to produce cost-competitive turquoise hydrogen and solid carbon for industrial decarbonization markets including steel, chemicals, refining, ammonia, and heavy transport.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersGoleta, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What C-Zero does
C-Zero, now operating commercially as Graphitic Energy, is a private clean energy company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Goleta, California, with operational activities in Texas. The company has developed its own proprietary version of methane pyrolysis, a thermal decomposition process that splits natural gas into turquoise hydrogen and solid carbon without producing CO2 emissions. Its hydrogen production pilot plant, which began operating in Texas in 2024, is capable of producing several hundred kilograms of hydrogen and up to 1,000 kg of solid carbon per day, and the company is targeting its first commercial plant at up to 10,000 metric tons of hydrogen per year later this decade.
The technology is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to green hydrogen, with reported turquoise hydrogen production costs of approximately $0.73/kg in South Korea as of 2025 compared to green hydrogen projections of $2.0–2.5/kg by 2035, and the solid carbon byproduct can enter the graphite value chain, including steelmaking. The process requires minimal electricity, can be sited anywhere natural gas or LNG is available, and does not require renewable electricity or CO2 sequestration to operate.
C-Zero's target customer segments are industrial decarbonization end-markets including steel production, chemicals manufacturing, refining, ammonia synthesis, and heavy transport, sectors that together account for approximately 25% of global CO2 emissions. The company has raised approximately $50.5 million across multiple funding rounds from a mix of financial and strategic investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Eni Next, AP Ventures, SK Gas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, ENGIE New Ventures, and Trafigura, and filed an SEC Form D in September 2024 for an exempt securities offering of up to $18 million.
C-Zero firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- C-Zero
- Legal name
- CZero, Inc.
- Website
- https://czero.energy
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- C-Zero (now Graphitic Energy) is a private deep-tech clean energy company developing proprietary methane pyrolysis technology to produce cost-competitive turquoise hydrogen and solid carbon for industrial decarbonization markets including steel, chemicals, refining, ammonia, and heavy transport.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
C-Zero industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Clean Hydrogen Production
- NAICS
- Industrial Gas Manufacturing (32512), Basic Chemical Manufacturing (3251), Chemical Manufacturing (325)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol) (EUABAJAC), Hydrogen Production Supply & Offtake (Green/Blue H2) for Utility Blending (EUAJAJAF)
Keywords
Where C-Zero is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Goleta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
C-Zero business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel
Revenue model
- Clean Hydrogen Production: Revenue generated from selling clean hydrogen produced via methane pyrolysis. The hydrogen can be used in industrial applications including refining, ammonia synthesis, and heavy transport.
C-Zero product offering
Product offeringCore offering
C-Zero produces clean "turquoise" hydrogen and solid carbon via proprietary methane pyrolysis, a thermal process that decomposes natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon with no CO2 emissions and minimal electricity input. The Texas-based pilot plant (operational since 2024) produces several hundred kilograms of hydrogen and up to 1,000 kg of solid carbon per day, with a planned commercial plant targeting 10,000 metric tons of hydrogen annually. Both hydrogen and solid carbon (for the graphite value chain) are sold to industrial customers seeking to decarbonize refining, ammonia, steel, chemicals, and heavy transport operations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Clean Hydrogen (Turquoise Hydrogen)
- Solid Carbon (Graphite Precursor)
Quantifiable outcome
- Turquoise hydrogen production costs of approximately $0.73/kg (South Korea 2025), compared to green hydrogen projections of $2.0-2.5/kg by 2035
Companies that use C-Zero
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
C-Zero technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
C-Zero partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
C-Zero competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Plug Power: Plug Power is an established hydrogen company building out green hydrogen production and end-use applications. It is a broad incumbent competing for industrial and mobility hydrogen customers, though using a different production pathway than C-Zero.
- Linde: Linde is one of the world's largest industrial gases companies and a major merchant hydrogen supplier. Its hydrogen business overlaps with C-Zero's target customers (refining, ammonia, chemicals) and provides a benchmark for scaled commercial operations.
- Air Products: Air Products is a global industrial gas major and one of the largest hydrogen producers in the world, with active projects in green and blue hydrogen. It is a comparable incumbent in the broader industrial hydrogen market C-Zero targets.
- Nel ASA: Nel is a leading electrolyzer manufacturer and one of the most visible pure-play hydrogen companies, targeting industrial and mobility applications. While its technology (electrolysis) differs, it competes for the same clean-hydrogen market C-Zero is pursuing.
- Air Liquide: Air Liquide is a global industrial gas major with significant hydrogen production and an ambitious decarbonization roadmap for low-carbon and renewable hydrogen. It is a broad incumbent peer across the same industrial customer base.
Emerging players
- SunFire: SunFire is a German electrolyzer company developing solid-oxide and alkaline electrolyzers for green hydrogen and e-fuels. It is an emerging player in the clean hydrogen space pursuing the same industrial decarbonization end-markets as C-Zero.
- Electric Hydrogen: Electric Hydrogen is a well-funded US startup developing low-cost PEM electrolyzers for industrial-scale green hydrogen. It is an emerging competitor targeting the same industrial offtake customers, but on the green-hydrogen side of the cost-curve competition.
Direct peers
- Hazer Group: Hazer is an Australia-listed company commercializing methane pyrolysis (the Hazer Process) to produce hydrogen and synthetic graphite. It competes directly with C-Zero on the same turquoise-hydrogen-plus-graphite dual-product thesis.
- HiiROC: HiiROC is a UK-based company developing methane pyrolysis technology to produce low-cost hydrogen and solid carbon. It is one of the few scale-stage competitors pursuing the same turquoise-hydrogen value proposition as C-Zero.
- Monolith Materials: Monolith is the most direct peer to C-Zero, using methane pyrolysis to produce both clean hydrogen and a solid carbon byproduct (carbon black). It targets the same industrial decarbonization customers and competes head-to-head for turquoise hydrogen positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
C-Zero financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
C-Zero leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
C-Zero funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
C-Zero M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about C-Zero
What does C-Zero do?
C-Zero produces clean "turquoise" hydrogen and solid carbon via proprietary methane pyrolysis, a thermal process that decomposes natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon with no CO2 emissions and minimal electricity input. The Texas-based pilot plant (operational since 2024) produces several hundred kilograms of hydrogen and up to 1,000 kg of solid carbon per day, with a planned commercial plant targeting 10,000 metric tons of hydrogen annually. Both hydrogen and solid carbon (for the graphite value chain) are sold to industrial customers seeking to decarbonize refining, ammonia, steel, chemicals, and heavy transport operations.
Is C-Zero a public or private company?
C-Zero is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was C-Zero founded?
C-Zero was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is C-Zero based?
C-Zero is headquartered in Goleta, United States, in the North America region.
How does C-Zero make money?
One revenue line is on record: clean Hydrogen Production.
Who are C-Zero's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Plug Power, Linde, Air Products, Nel ASA and Air Liquide. Emerging players are SunFire and Electric Hydrogen. Direct peers are Hazer Group, HiiROC and Monolith Materials.
Does C-Zero have an API?
No public API is recorded for C-Zero.
What industry is C-Zero in?
C-Zero's product category is Clean Hydrogen Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEACAB, Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility), with a secondary code of EUABAJAC, Hydrogen & Derivative Fuels for Industry (H₂, Ammonia, Methanol). Its NAICS code is 32512 and its SIC code is 2860.