Ammonia – sustainable hydrogen and energy vector

  • Produce hydrogen from ammonia and achieve your climate targets with IMM ammonia cracking technology.
  • Thanks to its compactness, you can use our technology in decentralized applications or on ships, rails or trucks, regardless of the pipeline network.
  • Get faster and more efficient access to CO2 neutral hydrogen by using our scalable and customizable technology.

 

Most frequently asked questions and answers:

Why don’t use hydrogen directly?

As the smallest and lightest element in the periodic table, hydrogen has a very low volumetric density, which makes its transportation and storage inefficient. For this reason, hydrogen is initially transported by other materials and is produced by the cracking process.
 

How can ammonia help?

Ammonia can be produced from green hydrogen and split into hydrogen and nitrogen without CO2 emissions. If ammonia is liquefied under moderate pressure, it contains more hydrogen per cubic meter than liquid hydrogen. Therefore, the storage and transportation of hydrogen in the form of ammonia are a significant advantages in terms of its higher volumetric energy density. Another advantage is ammonia can also be used directly in combustion engines or turbines. In the future, ammonia could replace conventional fuels such as heavy fuel oil in shipping and contribute to reducing emissions.
 

Isn't ammonia dangerous?

AAmmonia is toxic and flammable. As a result, it is classified as a hazardous substance and is only permitted under safety regulations. Despite these regulations, the use of ammonia is worthwhile. Thanks to its availability and climate neutrality, over 25 million tons are transported safely by ship and rail worldwide every year and are used in industry.

 

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Talk to our expert responsible for ammonia as a hydrogen carrier.

Contact Press / Media

Dr.-Ing. Gunther Kolb

Fraunhofer-Institut für Mikrotechnik und Mikrosysteme IMM
Carl-Zeiss-Str. 18-20
55129 Mainz

Phone +49 6131 990-341

Fax +49 6131 990-205