Ammonia Cracking

Our unique, distributed ammonia cracking solution is a critical component in building a reliable, cost-efficient green hydrogen supply chain as part of the energy transition. With our ammonia decomposition technology, we reduce the delivered cost of hydrogen to applications such as hydrogen refueling stations, off-grid power supply, maritime, and industrial users.

We are building a prototype system in the UK which cracks ammonia and purifies hydrogen to PEM fuel cell quality. Our aim is to help the rollout of hydrogen – by utilizing an already existing and mature infrastructure for ammonia storage, transport, and handling.

Graphic of the milestones of the development and roll-out of hymonic ammonia cracking solution starting from 2021 until today.

Graphic showing 3 steps of green hydrogen/ green ammonia supply chain, starting from green ammonia synthesis, via transport and storage, through ammonia cracking to provide green hydrogen for industrial use.

Diagram showing production cost range of renewable ammonia compared with production cost range for low-carbon fossil ammonia for the years 2020 to 2050. As for today the production cost range for renewable ammonia is still higher but the outlook shows that it will improve steadily per year and come closer to the production costs of low-carbon fossil ammonia.

Bar diagram showing a comparison of the price range per unit of energy between different fuels. The indicated prices are based on average values from the years 2010 to 2020. The chart includes an outlook for renewable ammonia for the years 2030 and 2050. Here are lower price ranges predicted for the future.

Diagram showing that the price per unit of energy will greatly increase for renewable ammonia in the years 2020 to 2050 while in comparison the price for fossils with CCS and fossils with no CCS will greatly decrease after a slight peak around the year 2040.

The graphic shows 23 tube trailers each loaded with 300kg hydrogen in comparison with 1.6 tube trailers each loaded with 25t liquid ammonia. 25t liquid ammonia equate 4,400kg hydrogen per delivery.

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Ammonia is gaining traction as a method for importing clean hydrogen to Europe- an essential step to drive the energy transition. This innovative ammonia cracker could be a game-changer for scaling up and overcoming challenges of hydrogen storage and transport.

Ammonia is indeed hazardous, especially if released in large quantities. Generally, ammonia’s safety challenges are manageable through widely used industrial best practices and standards which allow over 200 million tonnes of ammonia to be safely produced in over 60 countries of varying income levels. Many millions of tonnes are stored and transported every year via truck, pipeline, and tanker ships. Compared with other toxic liquefied and pressurized gases used throughout the world, the number of accidents and deaths caused by ammonia are proportionately very low. Nevertheless, like hydrogen, ammonia is a substance that needs careful safety measures and control.

Ammonia should only be handled by trained operators in a controlled setting and relevant PPE. Ammonia can be fatal if inhaled at high concentrations. However, its pungent odor can be detected in concentrations as low as 5 ppm, far below the dangerous levels. In addition, since gaseous ammonia is less dense than air, it can dissipate very quickly.

At distributed scales, ammonia is most often stored as a liquid at ambient temperature in a mildly pressurised tank (similar to LPG – 5-15 barg depending on the ambient temperature). At larger scales, ammonia is stored at a liquid at atmospheric pressure and refrigerated to –34C. Tanks for storing ammonia are widely available and low cost. Today, ammonia is often stored and used at industrial food processing facilities and ice-skating rinks as a refrigerant.

While some applications are indeed investigating ammonia as a direct fuel (such as large reciprocating maritime engines), ammonia presents difficulties with combustion, including slow flame speed for small engines and high NOx emissions. Therefore, many applications are looking at hydrogen as fuel which is more easily combusted and can also be used to directly generate electricity via a fuel cell. For vehicles like trucks and buses, the hydrogen fuel cell is an efficient and mature technology, and the challenges with onboard hydrogen have been solved, while not yet for ammonia.

Almost all EU Member States recognize the important role of hydrogen in their national energy and climate plans for the 2021-2030 period. About half have explicit hydrogen-related objectives, focused primarily on transport and industry. Many countries are now explicitly targeting hydrogen import via ammonia, with Germany's latest "National Hydrogen Strategy Update" (July 2023) states "According to the Federal Government’s assessment based on an analysis of the current scenarios, around 50 to 70 percent (45 to 90 TWh) of the 95 to 130 TWh demand forecast for 2030, will be covered by imports from abroad (in the form of hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives)."

Ammonia cracking

Distributed ammonia cracking is a game changer

How we got started

2021 – born in Siemens Energy Ventures

2022 – Siemens Energy-sponsored accelerator program

2023 – won InnovateUK, grant for prototype

2024 – launching as spin-off venture

What we do

Make green ammonia from air, water, and low-cost renewable electricity

Transport and store ammonia in mature, low-cost, existing infrastructure

Release H₂ when and where needed – via ammonia cracking solution

Why use Ammonia?

"The first of many proposed multi-gigawatt renewable ammonia production plants are already under construction. Renewable ammonia is expected to dominate all new ammonia production capacity after 2025."

By using ammonia as a carrier, a truck can deliver ~10x as much H₂.

Key applications of distributed ammonia cracking

Industry without H₂ pipline access

Off-grid power

On-board cracking (Maritime)

Hydrogen refueling station

Contact us

Dr. Zac Cesaro

Priya Gajadhar

Dr. Claus Krusch

Bastian Preusser

FAQs