Ammonia cracking: demonstration onboard an operating vessel, test plant opens in the UK

By Geofrey Njovu on December 22, 2023

H2SITE: on-board ammonia cracking for fuel cell grade hydrogen

H2SITE has validated its ammonia cracking technology onboard the BERTHA B vessel, which sailed along the shores of the Gulf of Biscay during the tests. Source: H2SITE.
Click to learn more. H2SITE has validated its ammonia cracking technology onboard the BERTHA B vessel, which sailed along the shores of the Gulf of Biscay during the tests. Source: H2SITE.

H2SITE has successfully validated its ammonia cracker technology for power generation onboard an operating vessel. An integrated membrane reactor for high-purity hydrogen fuel production from ammonia feedstock was installed and operated on the BERTHA B supply ship, which sailed along the shores of the Gulf of Biscay during the tests.

H2SITE’s membrane reactor technology involves complete ammonia transformation and hydrogen purification in a single process. The cracker was used to power the ship’s auxiliary services during navigation as part of the H2OCEAN project.

The test was a collaborative effort between H2SITE, Zumaia Offshore, Erhardt Offshore, Ajusa, and TECNALIA, along with the participation of Enagas and ABS.

Our innovative membrane reactor technology not only brings an improvement in system efficiency but also reduces the footprint of the installation. This is especially important in applications where space is limited, such as onboard a vessel. We have focused our design efforts on minimising the ammonia consumption, which will be key for the scale up to suit higher power output units.

Jose Medrano, Technical Director at H2SITE in his organisation’s official press release, 21 November 2023

AFC Energy: modular ammonia cracker demonstration

Click to learn about more details on the demonstration plant, plus AFC Energy’s future plans. Source: AFC Energy YouTube channel.

Also in the world of ammonia cracking, AFC Energy has announced plans to run a demonstration of its modular ammonia cracker technology, delivering 140 tonnes of PEM fuel cell grade hydrogen annually (400 kg/day). The ammonia for the demonstration will be supplied by OCI from its Rotterdam terminal, via its production facilities in the US and MENA regions. The demonstration plant successfully produced its first hydrogen in the first week of December. It will now be operated and validated over the coming months with targeted fuel cell grade hydrogen production.

Hydrogen produced from AFC’s technology can be used for stationary (including motive refuelling) and mobile (including maritime) applications. It could also be supplied to customers of AFC’s H-Power Generators.

Engineering work focussing on containerising the platform, including purification technology, will commence in 2024. The Surrey-based company will initially target European and Asian markets, having signed its first deployment LoI with a European trader. More information on the demonstration plant and AFC’s plans can be found here.

With an ammonia cracker offering market leading efficiency, low power consumption and the production of fuel cell grade hydrogen, AFC Energy’s first pilot project is a major step forward in unlocking the barriers of hydrogen logistics and transport. The cracker system, in containerised form, will be capable of replication across Europe and Asia with our ability to generate low cost, decarbonised hydrogen from internationally traded green and blue ammonia being a key step forward in the evolution of the global hydrogen market.

Adam Bond, AFC Energy CEO in his organisation’s official press release, 4 December 2023