In our latest technology landscape analysis, AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst explores four broad categories for novel ammonia production technologies: improved catalysts, sorbent enhancement, electrochemical ammonia synthesis, and other technology pathways (including geological, single-step and looping synthesis).
Icelandic start-up Atmonia is developing a novel nitrogen electrolyser technology which aims to produce ammonia from air and water in a single-step process.
2024 has seen successful funding rounds for a number of ammonia energy startups, ranging in focus from catalyst development to next-generation, modular synthesis technologies.
One of the key steps in project development is the selection of the licensor for the renewable ammonia synthesis loop. For renewable ammonia projects, licensors including KBR, Topsoe, Thyssenkrupp Uhde, Casale, and Stamicarbon offer a range of technologies and services covering small to large-scale ammonia production. We explore these different technology offerings, as well as the growing list of projects where they are being deployed.
A fast-growing ecosystem of startups is progressing various technology pathways in Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne-based Jupiter Ionics is developing an electrolytic cell that will directly reduce nitrogen to ammonia under mild temperature and pressure conditions. In New Zealand, Liquium is embarking on a pilot-scale deployment of its miniaturised Haber Bosch technology. The University of Newcastle and Element One are progressing validation and pilot-phase deployments of AMMONIAC - a novel, “chemical-looping” ammonia production system. And in Sydney, PlasmaLeap is developing a plasma-based system, with on-farm trials already planned.