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January, 2023
Cracker development moves ahead
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Siemens Energy, Fortescue
Future Industries (FFI) and GeoPura are
developing the prototype.
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Prototype will use ammonia to deliver 200kg of hydrogen a day -
enough to power around 5-10 hydrogen fuel cell-electric buses.
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Netflix, BBC and HS2 likely
to benefit from hydrogen produced.
The ammonia cracker system will provide the potential to produce green
hydrogen at scale, wherever and whenever it is needed. The system will
be designed to deliver high-purity hydrogen, suitable for PEM fuel
cell use, using FFI’s Metal Membrane Technology (MMT) purification
process. The MMT process developed by FFI and Australia’s national
science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research
Organisation (CSIRO) is key to producing high-purity hydrogen from the
ammonia cracking process. It selectively filters the hydrogen whilst
blocking other gases, allowing it to be used as a fuel and converted
as needed, at the time of re-fuelling.
“We have just 13 years to deliver a
net-zero electricity grid for the UK. Time is running out and we can’t
do this alone. This innovative green ammonia cracker could be a
game-changer for scaling up the green hydrogen industry – an important
step to drive the energy transition,” said Steve
Scrimshaw, VP at Siemens Energy UK & Ireland and a member of the
UK Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Council.
Ammonia has a high hydrogen density and is readily
transportable in bulk. It can be used for storing large amounts of
hydrogen in a liquid form that builds on existing global supply chain
infrastructure. The traditional process of producing ammonia has used
“grey” or “black” hydrogen from either natural gas or coal. The Haber-Bosch
process used to produce “green” ammonia from green hydrogen, using
renewable power, does not result in CO2 emissions
during the process. The cracker and MMT, if successful, will allow the
green hydrogen to be recovered and delivered as high-purity hydrogen
at the point of use, with a focus on mobility and off-grid power
applications. The technology could then be scaled up for future
markets, including industry, heat, and grid-scale power generation.
Siemens Energy have proven experience of innovation with ammonia. The
team previously led a collaborative project at the Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory (RAL) in Oxfordshire. The £1.5m proof-of-concept facility
showcased an ammonia-based energy storage system that turned
electricity, water and air into ammonia without releasing carbon
emissions. The ammonia is stored, before being used for electricity
generation. Ammonia cracking was not included at the pioneering RAL
demonstrator so the ammonia cracker prototype fills a supply chain gap
in the technology.
The UK Government estimates that hydrogen could make up to one third
of the UK’s energy mix by 2050 but there are challenges with hydrogen
storage and transport that need to be addressed to make this viable.
The £3.5m ammonia cracker prototype aims to help tackle these
challenges.
The partnership is a true collaboration between Siemens Energy,
Siemens Energy Ventures, FFI, GeoPura, and Innovate UK. Siemens Energy
and FFI are providing engineering expertise and innovative technical
solutions. GeoPura will provide onsite management, and as the
off-taker will be taking the hydrogen product from the prototype
ammonia cracker system for use in their innovative fuel cell power
generation technology.
GeoPura plans to use this hydrogen to supply Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs).
HPUs are used as a replacement for heavy polluting diesel generators
as an ‘off-grid’ solution to provide zero emission power to a wide
range of industries including TV production, such as Netflix and BBC’s
Winterwatch and construction projects, including HS2.
Fortescue Future Industries CEO Mark
Hutchinson added:
“The research and development of
technology like this is key to the success of green hydrogen globally.
There is an overwhelming demand for supply of green hydrogen,
particularly in Europe, and transport is central to ensuring that
supply. We know that green hydrogen can be transported long distances
as green ammonia, and, if successful, ammonia cracking coupled with
MMT means that you can convert it as you need to, at the point of use.
The work being done as part of this partnership stands to help make
green ammonia a globally traded hydrogen carrier and fuel not just for
the future but for today.”
Editors’ Notes:
For interview and filming opportunities contact Danielle Turton at Danielle.turton@siemens-energy.com
Fortescue Media at media@fortescue.com or
on +61 460 402 231
Siemens Energy is one of the
world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with
its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus
supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its
portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers
almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and
transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and
renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid
power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and
transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been
decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa
Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader
for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity
generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens
Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 91,000 people worldwide in more
than 90 countries and generated revenue of €28.5 billion in fiscal
year 2021.
About
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI)
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is a global green energy company
committed to producing green hydrogen, containing zero carbon, from
100 per cent renewable sources. Green hydrogen is
a zero-carbon fuel, that when used produces primarily water. It is a
practical and implementable solution that can help revolutionise the
way we power our planet: helping to decarbonise heavy industry and
create jobs globally. FFI is leading the green industrial revolution,
developing technology solutions for hard-to-decarbonise industries,
while building a global portfolio of renewable green hydrogen and
green ammonia projects.FFI is also leading the global effort to help
decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors and is developing and acquiring the
technology and energy supply to help decarbonise the iron operations
of one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore by 2030 (Scope 1
and 2) – our parent company Fortescue Metals Group (ASX FMG).
www.fortescue.com
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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