Uniper & thyssenkrupp Uhde: deploying ammonia cracking in Europe

Click to learn more. Building on an agreement for a demonstration-scale ammonia cracking plant adjacent to an existing power plant in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven (pictured), Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde will deploy another six cracking plants in Europe. Source: Uniper.

Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde have signed a framework agreement for the construction of commercial ammonia cracking plants. The agreement encompasses up to six large-scale plants with a combined capacity of 7,200 metric tons per day of ammonia. As part of the agreement, Uniper has secured licensing packages to deploy thyssenkrupp’s ammonia cracking technology and associated engineering and other services, including the supply of main equipment and catalysts.

The agreement also establishes the terms of use of the technology at Uniper’s planned commercial hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven which is currently at the pre-FEED stage. The pre-FEED phase will establish the design basis for the project, define its scope in more detail, further review its technoeconomic feasibility, and reduce its uncertainty – creating a solid foundation for the FEED phase scheduled to start at the end of 2026.

This announcement is a follow-on from May 2025 when the two parties announced the construction of a demonstration-scale ammonia cracking plant at the Uniper power plant site in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven, Germany. Funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the 28 tons-per day capacity demonstration will serve as the technological foundation for the scale-up in this agreement.

Domestic production alone cannot meet future hydrogen demand – imports of hydrogen derivatives will be essential. Our agreement with thyssenkrupp Uhde marks a decisive next step toward enabling global hydrogen trading. Ammonia crackers are key to international hydrogen logistics, and together with thyssenkrupp Uhde, we are laying the foundations for the infrastructure that Europe needs for its energy future – including our planned hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven.

Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper, in thyssenkrupp’s official press release, 26 November 2025

Our partnership with Uniper shows how cross-industry cooperation creates real added value. With our world-leading ammonia technology and our experience in executing complex plant projects, we are making a significant contribution to decarbonization and the development of a global hydrogen market.

Nadja Håkansson, COO of thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies & CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, in her organisation’s official press release, 26 November 2025