Williams

Breaking ground with investments in new technologies

Did you know that natural gas can be converted to zero-emission hydrogen using microwave technology?

Aurora Hydrogen, the company developing this solution, is one of many exciting tech startups breaking new ground in energy thanks in part to support from Williams’ Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) program.

Hydrogen production from the Aurora technology has the potential to reduce global CO₂ emissions significantly while using less electricity than other methods of hydrogen production and avoiding the need for CO₂ sequestration.

Williams’ CVC program supports efforts to commercialize emerging technologies including clean hydrogen, solar, carbon capture utilization and storage and next generation natural gas.

“We are investing in innovations and technologies at the forefront of the energy transition,” said Chad Zamarin, senior vice president of Corporate Strategic Development for Williams. “With our existing energy infrastructure, Williams is well positioned to enable supply and delivery decisions that connect the cleanest energy sources to meet real-time energy needs across the country.”

Several other recent announcements include investments in methane emissions detection technology and next gen natural gas certification.

• Williams has established a next generation natural gas certification process that covers the energy value chain from production through gathering and transmission with deliveries to end users. Williams has invested in data software company Context Labs to activate technology to track and measure emissions across the value chain, and is leveraging that technology in recently executed agreements with upstream producer Coterra Energy and downstream utility Dominion Energy Virginia.
• The CVC program also committed to an indirect investment in a developer of satellite-based greenhouse gas monitoring technology. The investment in Satlantis Technology through our Encino Environmental Holdings joint venture will further enhance emissions detection and measurement capabilities, and feed data into the decarbonization software provided by Context Labs.
• Additionally, Williams has joined with venture capital firm Energy Innovation Capital (EIC) and tech-focused non-profit Tulsa Innovation to attract energy tech startups to the Tulsa region with support services and access to early-stage capital.

In order for Williams to further decarbonize operations and deliver solutions for customers, partnering for innovation is necessary.