Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of a continuous plasma reactor to synthesize ammonia, ethylene, and other chemicals using methane and nitrogen feedstocks.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
March 5, 2026
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Funding will support the project team's small-scale research and development of a continuous plasma reactor to synthesize ammonia, ethylene, and other chemicals using methane and nitrogen feedstocks. Specifically, the project team will (1) fabricate, test, and validate a prototype lab-scale reactor to meet performance metrics, (2) apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize prototype performance, (3) incorporate optimization into a pre-modular scale reactor, (4) fabricate, test, and validate a pre-modular scale system to meet performance metrics, and (5) prepare system for next stage development. If successful, this project will result in a faster, energy efficient, and lower-cost technology capable of synthesizing ammonia, ethylene, and other chemicals critical for the energy industry, ultimately reducing dependence on foreign energy and minerals, thereby increasing U.S. energy security.