Baker Hughes takes a stake in synthetic natural gas startup

(Bloomberg) --Baker Hughes is taking a 15% stake in a startup that aims to produce natural gas from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, the oilfield service company’s latest move to invest technology designed to capture emissions.

Houston-based Baker Hughes is investing in Electrochaea GmbH, a German company developing a process to make so-called synthetic natural gas from carbon dioxide and from hydrogen produced using renewable energy, according to a statement. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. The CO2 can be derived from sources including industrial plants and the breakdown of organic matter.

The investment is the latest example of an oilfield service provider backing technology intended to address concerns about greenhouse gas emissions. Earlier this month, Baker Hughes announced plans to develop a hub in Norway to capture and store CO2.

Baker Hughes and Electrochaea technology “provides an integrated method to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as road transportation and heating,” Rod Christie, executive vice president of turbomachinery and process solutions at Baker Hughes, said in the statement. With its investment, Baker Hughes will get a seat on Electrochaea’s board.