In a major step towards promoting the international hydrogen trade, H2SITE has designed and constructed a cutting-edge ammonia cracking system utilising membrane reactor technology.

This groundbreaking system, part of the Ammogen Project located at Tyseley Energy Park (TEP) in the United Kingdom, will efficiently produce fuel cell-grade hydrogen from ammonia, a promising carrier for transporting hydrogen.

The system boasts an impressive capacity to produce 200 kilograms of green hydrogen per day.

The hydrogen produced will be readily available for mobility applications in the Birmingham area, contributing to the region’s efforts towards a sustainable energy future.

H2SITE’s ammonia cracking and separation technology integrates H2-selective membranes immersed in a catalytic bed, where ammonia is cracked into its constituent products.

As the reaction produces hydrogen, the technology separates the hydrogen in situ through these membranes, eliminating the need for downstream separation units.

This selective separation of hydrogen in the membrane reactors results in virtually complete ammonia conversions at mild temperatures, with over 98 per cent hydrogen recovery, consistently meeting fuel-cell grade standards.

“This project is a stepping stone for us, as it validates the technology of the membrane reactor for ammonia cracking. We plan to scale it up to process tonnes per day within the next two years for use in import hubs and maritime applications,” said Jose Medrano, Technical Director at H2SITE.

The Ammogen project is a collaborative effort involving H2SITE, Tyseley Energy Park (TEP), the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Gemserv (Talan), EQUANS, Yara International, and the University of Birmingham.

This partnership aims to promote the international hydrogen trade and advance the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.