Methanol steam reforming by heat-insulated warm plasma catalysis for efficient hydrogen production

•Methanol steam reforming in a heat-insulated warm plasma-catalytic (WPC) reactor is reported.•Methanol mainly converts via pyrolysis in warm plasma and steam reforming over the catalyst.•H2 selectivity of higher than 97% is achieved in both warm plasma and WPC case.•Energy efficiency of 84% with methanol conversion of 94% are achieved in this WPC reactor.