Site items in: Cracking Ammonia

Maritime developments: on-water cracking, AiPs and Singapore bunker study releases first results
Article

In maritime ammonia updates this week:

  • In Europe, government funding will support the development of an ammonia cracking system that can be installed on existing LNG vessels (Norway), and the establishment of a floating production and storage facility connected to an offshore wind farm (Netherlands).
  • Two AiPs have been granted: one for Korea’s first ammonia FSRU vessel, the other for a bunkering tanker in Singapore.
  • H2Carrier and Trelleborg will develop a ship-to-ship ammonia transfer system.
  • And GCMD has unveiled the results of their Singaporean ammonia bunker study. All risks identified for conducting pilot projects were found to be low or mitigable, with work towards those pilots to continue.

Ammonia cracking technologies gather traction across Europe
Article

In cracking technology updates this week:

  • Air Liquide’s industrial-scale, ammonia cracking pilot plant at the Port of Antwerp is expected to be operational in 2024.
  • In the UK, AFC Energy has announced a new cracking technology platform.
  • Aramco and Linde Engineering have plans to develop their own ammonia cracking technology based on a new catalyst, with a demonstration plant in northern Germany to follow.
  • And Fraunhofer IMM researchers have developed the compact AMMONPAKTOR cracking reactor system, which will be utilised to feed PEM fuel cells.

Essar Group: advancing the ammonia energy transition in India & the UK
Article

India-based Essar Group will invest $2.4 billion on low-carbon projects at the Stanlow refinery complex near Liverpool, UK. As part of this investment, Essar and Stanlow Terminals will jointly develop an ammonia import terminal. The site will feature deep-water access, cracking facilities and the capacity to handle more than one million tonnes of ammonia imports per year from Gujarat, India.

New ammonia import infrastructure under development across Europe (and beyond)
Article

New import terminals, energy hubs, bunker facilities & upgrades to existing ammonia storage facilities are underway across Europe. This week, we explore new project announcements in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel, Rotterdam and Immingham. We visit Taiwan for another ammonia import terminal announcement, and look at a new partnership between thyssenkrupp and ADNOC to deploy large-scale cracking - the “last piece of the puzzle” for global ammonia trading.

Ammonia cracking to enable hydrogen-fueled power generation in South Korea
Article

Johnson Matthey and Doosan Enerbility will develop hydrogen-fueled, closed cycle gas turbine power plants in South Korea. Johnson Matthey will provide cracking technology and catalysts to convert ammonia into pure hydrogen fuel, while Doosan is currently developing a 380 MW, 100% hydrogen fed gas turbine, which will reportedly be complete by 2027. The two will work together to integrate cracking & CCGT technologies, potentially providing a blueprint for similar power plants in the future.

New photocatalyst for ammonia decomposition unveiled
Article

Rice University & Syzygy Plasmonics have demonstrated a new copper-iron photocatalyst for ammonia decomposition. The potential to replace expensive, rare materials like ruthenium would be a significant step, and Syzygy aims to couple the new photocatalyst and light-driven, all-electric reactor technology developed at Rice to decarbonise chemical & fuel production. It’s been a big month for Syzygy, which also closed a successful, $76 million Series C funding round, with Aramco, Chevron, LOTTE and Toyota all participating.

Siemens Energy begins work on commercial cracker prototype
Article

Siemens Energy, Fortescue Future Industries and GeoPura are developing a £3.5 million ammonia cracker prototype in Newcastle, UK. The prototype will deliver 200 kg of high-purity, PEM-suitable hydrogen fuel per day, and will be based on Fortescue’s “Metal Membrane Technology” (MMT) purification process. GeoPura will act as offtaker for the prototype facility, with the hydrogen to be used as in its Hydrogen Power Unit fuel cell technology.

Fortescue & Deutsche Bahn to develop ammonia-powered trains in Germany
Article

Deutsche Bahn and Fortescue Future Industries will collaborate to modify existing locomotive diesel engines to run on hydrogen & ammonia fuel. The pair will utilise Ammonigy’s ammonia cracking technology in their design, with a prototype, bench-top engine currently undergoing testing in Germany. This week FFI also signed an agreement to develop a new energy import terminal in Wilhelmshaven.