AFC Energy says its largest ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking plant now in service.
AFC Energy PLC (AIM:AFC, OTC:AFGYF) has made a significant stride in hydrogen power technology by initiating the largest ammonia-to-hydrogen modular cracker demonstration in the world.
Using ammonia supplied by OCI Global, the cracker system is designed to deliver 140 tonnes of fuel cell-grade hydrogen annually (400kg/day), with the output used by AFC’s UK-based H-Power Generators.
Adam Bond, chief executive said:
🔥 What about we co-host a webinar? Let's educate, captivate, and convert the hydrogen economy!
Hydrogen Central is the global go-to online magazine for the hydrogen economy, we can help you host impactful webinars that become a global reference on your topic and are an evergreen source of leads. Click here to request more details
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.”
This development serves as a tangible demonstration of ammonia’s role in the global hydrogen trade, with OCI Global providing ammonia via its Rotterdam terminal from its facilities in the US and MENA regions.
The demonstration plant underscores the efficiency of AFC’s technology, the company said. Specifically, the system consumes significantly less power than traditional electrolysers, making it an ideal source of distributed hydrogen for various applications, including stationary and maritime uses.
The cracker has been developed throughout 2023, leading to the successful production of cracked hydrogen this week. The company plans to retrofit the demonstration plant in 2024 with its latest cracker technology advancements, validated by the UK’s National Physical Laboratory, to further improve cost and efficiency performance.
The project also involves a strategic angle, with AFC Energy having signed a Letter of Intent with the trading arm of a major European energy company to market the potential for ammonia as a hydrogen carrier fuel.
This is in addition to ongoing dialogues with multiple European project partners, reflecting the high growth potential of AFC Energy’s modular, scalable cracker technology.
Looking ahead, the company plans to start engineering in 2024 to containerise the ammonia cracker platform, including purification technology.
This aims to enable mobile, distributed hydrogen production at the point of consumption, with an initial focus on European and Asian markets. Additionally, AFC Energy expects to commence cracking green ammonia for the next stage of the project.
The emergence of AFC Energy’s ammonia cracking technology, alongside its existing fuel cell technology, holds the potential to deliver significant material value.
The company is exploring various options to ensure this potential is fully realised through industry partnerships and other strategic avenues.
This initiative is closely aligned with the global objectives for carbon neutrality and highlights the practical viability of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier in the renewable energy sector.
AFC Energy says its largest ammonia-to-hydrogen cracking plant now in service, December 4, 2023
