Johnson Matthey and thyssenkrupp: CCS-based ammonia technology to market
By on May 31, 2024
Click to expand. JM’s LCHTM technology for hydrogen synthesis uses less natural gas and emits less CO2 than comparable technologies. Source: Johnson Matthey.
Johnson Matthey (JM) and thyssenkrupp Uhde have signed an MoU to jointly offer an integrated, CCS-based ammonia production technology. The new platform will be comprised of JM’s LCHTM hydrogen production technology and thyssenkrupp’s uhde® ammonia process, enabling the production of CCS-based ammonia with “up to 99% CO2 capture.”
According to Johnson Matthey, their LCHTM technology features an Autothermal Reformer (ATR) with or without a Gas Heated Reformer (GHR). It is 10% less reliant on gas than conventional Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or ATR methods. The technology also generates 10% less CO2 per unit of hydrogen produced and requires less CAPEX relative to comparable technologies.
The LCHTM technology will be deployed in bp’s CCS-based hydrogen production project H2Teesside. It will also be deployed in Equinor’s CCS-based hydrogen production plant H2H Saltend.
thyssenkrupp’s uhde® ammonia process technology was first deployed in 1928, and has featured in more than 130 ammonia plants globally. Uhde’s ammonia technology, which features two radial-type catalyst beds arranged in one or two ammonia converters, has benefits of “high energy efficiency, and “high conversion rates and large catalyst volume”. Its dual pressure technology is a market leader in plants with a daily production of over 3,000 tons.
The new agreement builds on over two decades of collaboration on ammonia-related business between the two companies.
We know multiple routes are needed in the energy transition, and ammonia provides several options because it can be used directly in power and shipping industries, and as a hydrogen carrier to safely transport hydrogen to areas it is not easy to produce.
Combining our expertise and over two decades worth of partnership with thyssenkrupp Uhde, we are excited to offer this technology which will allow our customers to produce ammonia with significantly lower CO2 emissions.
Alberto Giovanzana, MD – Catalyst Technologies at JM, in his organisation’s official press release, 20 May 2024
At thyssenkrupp Uhde, we are committed to our purpose, ‘we create a livable planet’. With this strong partnership we further broaden our portfolio of climate-friendly solutions and can help our customers even better to reach their sustainability goals.
Lucretia Löscher, COO thyssenkrupp Uhde, in JM’s official press release, 20 May 2024