A novel approach of upgrading methane towards the simultaneous production/separation of H-2 and C-2 hydrocarbons (ethane and ethylene), is developed. The reaction system was studied in a solid state proton (H) conducting cell. Mixtures of methane, steam (and oxygen) were introduced over the anode, while an inert gas flowed over the cathode. Under open-circuit, the reacting mixture produced H-2, C2H6, C2H4, CO and CO2. Under closed-circuit and when protons (H+) were electrochemically "pumped" from the anode to the cathode, a considerable increase in the production of H-2 was observed while the production of C-2 compounds remained essentially unaffected. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.