Many products benefit from tight integration, where companies design and even manufacture key components in-house. Notable examples include Apple with its custom microprocessors and Tesla with its Superchargers.
General Galactic, a new startup operating in stealth mode, is taking a similar approach to drive down prices for e-fuels, which produce hydrocarbons from captured carbon dioxide. The company shared this exclusive information with TechCrunch.
Founded by Halen Mattison, a former SpaceX employee, General Galactic aims to produce methane from carbon dioxide more efficiently on Earth. This idea stemmed from Mattison’s time at SpaceX, where he was working on propellant generation for Starship. After teaming up with Luke Neise at Stanford, the duo founded the company in 2022 and secured a $1.9 million pre-seed funding round in July 2023.
General Galactic’s ultimate goal is to synthesize methane cheaper from the air than extracting it from the ground, by capturing carbon dioxide, generating hydrogen from water, and then combining both to produce methane using renewable power.
General Galactic’s methane reactor is producing around 2,000 liters per day. Image Credits: General Galactic
General Galactic’s unique strategy involves designing and developing the entire system in-house to efficiently produce methane while minimizing costs. By integrating the entire process and focusing on selling the fuel rather than the equipment, the company aims to drive down costs effectively.
The company plans to modularize each key component for mass production, transportability, and easier installation. Currently, they are concentrating on methane production and have achieved a daily output of 2,000 liters.
While their ambitions are high, General Galactic faces numerous engineering challenges in their quest to achieve their goals. However, with a strong focus on in-house development and integration, the company is determined to succeed in the e-fuels industry.
