Air Liquide will design, build and operate a "next-generation" hydrogen production unit – SMR-X – producing hydrogen with an increased energy efficiency and a reduced carbon footprint. Overall natural gas consumption to produce hydrogen, as well as CO 2 emissions will be reduced by around 5% compared with conventional SMR. At the same time, part of the CO 2 generated during the production process will be captured by Covestro and used as a feedstock in its production process. By capturing carbon and upgrading the recovered CO 2, this model is part of a circular economy system.