Air Liquide announced the successful start-up of the world’s first industrial-scale ammonia cracking pilot unit with a 30-tons-per-day ammonia-to-hydrogen conversion capacity at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium.
This groundbreaking innovation, announced November 13, demonstrates a key missing technology brick to a viable pathway for converting ammonia into hydrogen, and unlocks challenges of transportation of hydrogen. This technology proven at the industrial scale for the development of world-scale ammonia cracking plants enables access to low-carbon and renewable hydrogen for the decarbonization of industry and mobility.
The ability to efficiently transport hydrogen over long distances is a persistent challenge in developing a robust global hydrogen economy. Ammonia (NH3), formed by hydrogen and nitrogen molecules, emerges as a valuable hydrogen carrier. It can be cost-effectively produced in regions rich in renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, and wind or other low-carbon power.
A well-established global infrastructure already exists for the large-scale production, transportation, and utilization of ammonia. This allows for the export of ammonia from energy-abundant regions to end-users worldwide, where it can then be “cracked” back into hydrogen, providing a crucial component for decarbonizing industry and mobility.
Ammonia synthesis from hydrogen and nitrogen from the air is an equilibrium. The reverse splitting process is possible. This demonstrates potential and perhaps provides useful numbers for investment and operating cost.
Ammonia is a possible green fuel for ocean shipping. Easy to store. Liquifies in tanks. Recent incidents demonstrate toxicity. Must be designed for safety.
Is there enough natural - and recoverable - ammonia to make this worthwhile? (If there is enough natural why do we make it in factories for industrial uses?)
The original fertilizer was guano from decomposed bird droppings. Later they learned it was mostly a source of nitrogen. For years nitrates from “saltpeter” caves or imported from Chile was a major source of nitrogen. Until Fritz Haber invented synthetic ammonia in 1914. He received a Nobel Prize for his discovery.
Manure or processed sewage solids remain natural sources. Remember Milorganite from Milwaukee. There are concerns about use of manure or sewage. You worry about contamination with toxic metals. For your garden you always age it for a while.
Yes, I know what ammonia is, and where it comes from. The question was is there enough NATURAL ammonia to make this worthwhile. Producing ammonia synthetically just so you can deconstruct it into hydrogen doesn’t seem like a very astute way to de-carbonize.
And the fact that ammonia is a common industrial product means: we make a lot of it with an industrial process. (Hundreds of millions of tons per year.) How much of it do we recover from Natural processes? I’d guess it’s a tiny fraction of the total market. A teensy tiny fraction. I’d even guess it’s a weensey whiney teensy tiny fraction.
On a ship ability to liquify ammonia (or methanol) is an advantage compared to shipping liquid hydrogen at very low temps or compressing hydrogen in heavy tanks.
Green ammonia from green hydrogen is very possible. But does add processing cost and capital investment.
A well-established global infrastructure already exists for the large-scale production, transportation, and utilization of ammonia. This allows for the export of ammonia from energy-abundant regions to end-users worldwide, where it can then be “cracked” back into hydrogen, providing a crucial component for decarbonizing industry and mobility.