Electrochaea

What Electrochaea does

Electrochaea GmbH is a privately held Power-to-Gas (P2G) technology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Planegg, Germany, with additional operations in San Diego (US) and Hvidovre (Denmark). The company's core offering is a patented biomethanation platform that uses a proprietary strain of methanogenic archaea—originally adapted by Prof. Laurens Mets at the University of Chicago—to convert green hydrogen and captured CO2 into grid-quality renewable e-methane. Operating at mild process conditions (~65°C) with a stated 98.5% single-pass CO2 conversion efficiency, the technology is modular, scales from a 1 MWe pilot (2014) to a 10 MWe commercial archetype (2024), and can theoretically produce ~400 GWh of e-methane annually at 100+ MWe scale.

Electrochaea commercializes through flexible technology transfer and licensing agreements, separate Material Transfer Agreements for the self-replicating archaea biocatalyst, and supporting techno-economic feasibility studies, engineering partner introductions, and operator training. Its primary customers and channel partners are biogas/biomethane plant operators (Roslev Biogas Plant, BIOFOS), heavy industrial emitters (cement, steel, chemicals, petrochemicals, breweries), waste-to-energy and landfill operators, bioethanol producers, and renewable energy developers. Strategic partners include Baker Hughes (since 2021, with a finalized integrated BEDP in February 2025) and Hitachi (five-year Japan licensing deal signed November 2024, commissioning targeted for 2027). The company also joined the e-NG Coalition in December 2025 alongside majors such as ENGIE, TotalEnergies, and Mitsubishi.

The business is at the pre-commercial-to-early-commercial stage: 11-50 employees, with disclosed cumulative funding of approximately $40.9M plus ~€26.96M in EU and Danish government subsidies. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue is generated through licensing royalties, biocatalyst supply, and project-related professional services. Primary risks include dependence on a small number of channel partners for global scale-up, policy-driven demand sensitivity, and the need to convert the Hitachi and Baker Hughes partnerships into recurring licensing revenue.

Name

Electrochaea

Legal name

Electrochaea GmbH

Website

https://electrochaea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Electrochaea is a German Power-to-Gas company that licenses patented biomethanation technology using proprietary methanogenic archaea to convert green hydrogen and CO2 into grid-quality e-methane, serving biogas operators, heavy industrial emitters, and energy majors via Baker Hughes and Hitachi partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biomethanation Technology (Power-to-Gas)

NAICS

Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Biogas/RNG Plant Development, EPC & Project Delivery (EUAAAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD), Electrochemical CO₂ Conversion Systems (electrolyzers, catalysts, reactors, balance‑of‑plant) (EUABAIAK), Biogas Upgrading to RNG & Injection/Fueling (Gas Cleanup, Compression) (EUAIAEAF)

Keywords

• Biomethanation technology
• Power-to-gas solutions
• E-methane production
• Carbon capture utilization
• Renewable synthetic gas

Headquarters

HQ city

Planegg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Electrochaea licenses its patented biomethanation technology through flexible technology transfer and licensing agreements. Partners secure rights to use the proprietary archaea biocatalyst and technical information to engineer and operate biomethanation processes. Licensing agreements include options for additional deployments.
2. Biocatalyst Supply (Material Transfer Agreement): The proprietary archaea biocatalyst is supplied under a separate Material Transfer Agreement (MTA). The biocatalyst is self-replicating and self-maintaining when fed hydrogen, CO2, and nutrient traces.
3. Feasibility and Engineering Services: In-house techno-economic and feasibility assessments, technical support, operator training, and ongoing technical assistance throughout project lifecycle. Connection to pre-qualified engineering partners for project planning and delivery.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Electrochaea develops and licenses proprietary biomethanation technology that converts green hydrogen and CO2 into renewable, grid-quality e-methane using a patented methanogenic archaea biocatalyst. The technology is commercialized through technology transfer and licensing agreements, with the proprietary archaea supplied under Material Transfer Agreements and complemented by techno-economic feasibility assessments, engineering partner coordination, operator training, and ongoing technical support.

Product overview

Electrochaea is a leading Power-to-Gas (P2G) technology company offering a unified biomethanation technology platform. The core offering is a patented system using proprietary methanogenic archaea as a biocatalyst to convert green hydrogen and CO2 into grid-quality e-methane. The technology operates as part of a two-step P2G system where renewable electricity and water are electrolyzed to produce green hydrogen, which is then fed into a bioreactor along with CO2. The archaea synthesize e-methane at 98.5% CO2 conversion efficiency. Key product outputs include e-methane gas (injectable into grids), e-LNG (liquefied form for maritime/transport), and the biocatalyst itself. Electrochaea commercializes its technology through licensing and technology transfer agreements, providing comprehensive support including feasibility assessments, engineering partner networks, operator training, and ongoing technical assistance. The modular, scalable solutions serve diverse sectors including biogas/biomethane plants, landfills, waste-to-energy, bioethanol production, industrial facilities, maritime, transportation, and renewable energy storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Biomethanation Technology (Power-to-Gas) Electrochaea's proprietary biomethanation technology uses patented methanogenic archaea as a biocatalyst to convert green hydrogen and CO2 into renewable, grid-quality e-methane gas. The technology operates under mild conditions (~65°C) with 98.5% CO2 conversion efficiency and is modular, scalable, and customizable for various industrial applications. It is licensed to energy producers, utilities, and industrial operators.
• E-Methane (Synthetic Methane) The primary output of Electrochaea's biomethanation process: a low-carbon or carbon-neutral synthetic gas with identical properties to fossil natural gas. Can be injected directly into gas grids, liquefied into eLNG, or used for on-site operations and transportation fuel.
• E-LNG (Liquefied E-Methane) Liquefied form of e-methane gas classified as a Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) in the EU. Used for hard-to-electrify sectors such as maritime shipping and heavy industry as a drop-in replacement for fossil LNG, compliant with FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS regulations.
• Biocatalyst (Proprietary Archaea Strain) Electrochaea's proprietary strain of methanogenic archaea, selectively evolved for optimal performance in climate-solving applications. Self-replicating and self-maintaining when fed hydrogen, CO2 and traces of nutrients. Exhibits high CO2 conversion efficiency (98.5%), high tolerance to contaminants, no intermediate products, and rapid-reaction kinetics. Supplied under Material Transfer Agreements.
• Technology Licensing and Transfer Agreements Flexible technology transfer and licensing agreements enabling partners to deploy Electrochaea's biomethanation technology. Includes techno-economic feasibility assessments, engineering partner connections, operator training, and ongoing technical support throughout the project lifecycle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98.5% CO2 conversion efficiency
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• e-NG CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Electrochaea joined the e-NG Coalition in December 2025, a collaborative alliance of companies promoting electric natural gas (e-methane) as critical to the global energy transition. The coalition supports policy development, harmonization of regulations and standards, and strengthens collaboration across the e-NG value chain. Other members include ENGIE, IHI, Toho Gas, StandardCarbon, ItalGas, Mitsubishi Corporation, TES, Samsung E&A, and TotalEnergies.
• HitachicoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 19 November 2024Five-year technology transfer and licensing agreement signed November 2024. Hitachi will deploy Electrochaea's patented technology to produce clean, synthetic methane at Japan's first biomethanation plant, with commissioning targeted in 2027. Hitachi retains option to purchase additional licenses to deploy Electrochaea's biomethanation technology throughout Japan. The deployment supports Japan's climate goals of achieving 1% synthetic methane injection by 2030 and 90% carbon-neutralized gas by 2050.
• Baker HughescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2021Baker Hughes announced an investment in Electrochaea in 2021 to expand its carbon utilisation portfolio through power-to-gas solutions converting CO2 into synthetic natural gas using bio-methanation technology. The collaboration focuses on scaling up and commercializing the technology for use in various sectors. In 2025, the companies finalized the Basic Engineering Design Package (BEDP) combining Electrochaea's biocatalyst methanation system with Baker Hughes' carbon capture solutions for large industrial-scale applications.
• StorengyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner logo displayed on Electrochaea website. Storengy is a subsidiary of ENGIE specializing in gas storage solutions, likely collaborating on power-to-gas and e-methane storage applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MicrobEnergy (Viessmann): MicrobEnergy, part of Viessmann, develops biological methanation technology using methanogenic archaea to convert CO2 and hydrogen into synthetic methane — a direct technical competitor to Electrochaea in the bio-methanation niche. Both target Power-to-Gas applications with similar biocatalyst approaches.
• Sunfire: Sunfire develops Power-to-Gas and Power-to-Liquids technologies including chemical (Sabatier) methanation and high-temperature electrolysis, producing e-fuels including synthetic methane. Competes directly with Electrochaea in the P2G and e-methane value chain, with a broader product portfolio spanning e-kerosene and e-diesel.
• Infinium: Infinium produces e-fuels including e-methane/e-LNG from captured CO2 and green hydrogen via the reverse water-gas shift pathway. Competes with Electrochaea in the carbon-to-value e-methane space serving transport, maritime, and industrial customers with drop-in low-carbon fuels.
• HIF Global: HIF Global is an e-fuels developer producing e-methanol, e-gasoline, and e-methane from green hydrogen and captured CO2 using the Haru Oni process. A direct competitor in e-methane/e-LNG for hard-to-abate sectors like maritime and heavy transport.

Broad incumbents

• Topsoe: Topsoe is a well-established Danish catalysis and process technology company offering chemical methanation (Sabatier) technology for Power-to-Gas applications. A larger incumbent in the methanation space with a broader chemicals and refining portfolio that competes with Electrochaea's bio-methanation approach.
• MAN Energy Solutions: MAN Energy Solutions (part of Volkswagen's Traton) supplies large-scale methanation reactors (e.g., for the Audi e-gas project in Werlte). A broad industrial incumbent whose catalytic methanation reactors compete with Electrochaea's biological approach for large industrial P2G deployments.
• Siemens Energy: Siemens Energy supplies Power-to-Gas infrastructure including Silyzer electrolyzers and integrates P2G solutions for utilities and industrial customers. A broad incumbent competing in the same value chain as Electrochaea across hydrogen production, methanation integration, and grid-scale energy storage.

Regional players

• IHI Corporation: IHI is a Japanese industrial conglomerate developing e-methane production technology and pursuing Japan's synthetic methane targets. A regional competitor in Japan with overlapping technology ambitions; Electrochaea's Hitachi partnership positions the two as potential partners as well as competitors in the same geographic market.

Emerging players

• Carbon Recycling International: CRI (Iceland) operates the George Olah renewable methanol plant converting CO2 and green H2 into e-methanol using chemical catalysis. An emerging player with partial overlap on the CO2-to-renewable-fuel thesis but focused on methanol rather than methane; useful for benchmarking RFNBO business models and offtake structures.

Others

• Linde: Linde is a global industrial gases major with significant investments in clean hydrogen production, distribution, and green molecule supply chains. Functions as an enabling infrastructure player rather than direct competitor — could be a customer, partner, or alternative supplier of clean hydrogen feedstock and gas-grid logistics to Electrochaea's deployments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/electrochaea
• Xx.com/electrochaea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds8 records

Investors11 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Electrochaea