AFC Energy demonstrates world's largest "ammonia to hydrogen" modular cracker system
() , a provider of hydrogen power generation technologies, unveiled its first modular ammonia cracker system, demonstrating the production of hydrogen in the UK from ammonia procured from OCI Global.
AFC's demonstration constitutes the largest ammonia-to-hydrogen modular cracker operation in the world. The system is designed to deliver 140 tonnes of fuel cell-grade hydrogen per year or 400kg/day. Hydrogen from the cracker plant is targeted for sale into AFC's UK H-Power Generator deployments and 3rd party customers.
AFC said it has signed a letter of intent with the trading arm of "large European energy company" to market cracker adoption.
Adam Bond, Chief Executive, AFC Energy, commented:
"With an ammonia cracker offering market leading efficiency, low power consumption and the production of fuel cell grade hydrogen, AFC Energy's first pilot project is a major step forward in unlocking the barriers of hydrogen logistics and transport. The cracker system, in containerised form, will be capable of replication across Europe and Asia with our ability to generate low cost, decarbonised hydrogen from internationally traded green and blue ammonia being a key step forward in the evolution of the global hydrogen market."
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AFC has successfully demonstrated its disruptive ammonia cracker technology with a pilot plant highlighting ammonia's potential in supporting global hydrogen trade. The ammonia was supplied by OCI via its Rotterdam terminal, where it imports from its facilities in the US and MENA.
AFC's modular technology enables ammonia (NH3) to be "cracked" into discreet hydrogen and nitrogen molecules. The hydrogen can then be consumed as a fuel in fuel cells or combustion, with the nitrogen emitted to the atmosphere (which is 78% nitrogen) with zero carbon emissions.
The growing "ammonia to power" market targets stationary and maritime applications that can benefit from ammonia as a sustainable clean fuel. Ammonia is set to play a growing role in delivering on decarbonisation targets due to its high energy density relative to hydrogen gas and potential to displace conventional fossil fuels.
Designed to produce fuel cell-grade hydrogen at a rate of 400kg/day, AFC Energy's cracker system consumes a small fraction of the power consumed by electrolysers, highlighting an ideal distributed hydrogen source potential.
The well-established supply chain for ammonia enables a low barrier to its adoption globally as a hydrogen carrier fuel. However, the lack of commercially available ammonia cracking technologies highlights a gap in the ammonia value chain where AFC's technology can shine.
AFC's demonstration plant, including purification technology, will now be operated and validated over several months with targeted ISO grade (99.97%) hydrogen production. AFC said it expects to commence cracking green ammonia for the next stage of the project.
Furthermore, engineering will start in 2024 to containerise AFC's ammonia cracker platform, including purification technology, to enable mobile, distributed hydrogen production at the point of consumption, with an initial focus on European and Asian markets.
The Hydrogen Council, in collaboration with McKinsey and Co, forecasts that 400 out of the 660 million tons of hydrogen needed for carbon neutrality by 2050 will be transported over long distances, with the global trade of hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia, accounting for approx. 45%.
shares rose 5.40% on the news.
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