University of Minnesota: world-leading demo plants to ammonia start-ups

Join us Tues 16 Dec @ 10AM EST.

The University of Minnesota has long-standing research lines regarding renewable ammonia production and application as a zero-carbon fuel. Back in 2014, the University of Minnesota West Central Research & Outreach Center (WCROC) started operating a 100 kg per day wind to ammonia pilot in Morris, Minnesota, which was among the first flexible ammonia demonstrations globally.

In August this year, a scaled-up version of the renewable ammonia pilot was inaugurated, with the capacity to produce 1 ton of ammonia per day. The project consortium has been led since 2021 by RTI International, and was made possible by US$10 million in funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency Energy (ARPA-E).

In the meantime, various ammonia-related companies have spun out of the University of Minnesota, including Aza Power and Power-to-X Analytics. Aza Power has developed an engine configuration based on turbulent jet ignition, allowing for engines with 100% ammonia as a fuel. Aza Power Systems aims to address both stationary and transportation markets. Power-to-X Analytics performs techno-economic analyses (TEAs) and life cycle assessments (LCAs) for Power-to-X projects based on variable renewable electricity inputs, allowing for optimal technology selection, sizing, and operational scheduling.

To discuss the pilot in Morris, progress by the spin out companies and ongoing initiatives at the University of Minnesota, Sameer Parvathikar (Director, RTI International), Michael Reese (Director of Operations, WCROC), Matt Palys (Principal Consultant & CEO, Power-to-X Analytics), and Seamus Kane (Co-Founder & CEO, Aza Power) will be joined in conversation by AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst. Join us on 16 December @ 10AM EST (4PM CET) for a fascinating discussion, and be sure to submit your questions for our speakers in advance.