Ammonia plant prototype

The ASPIRE (Ammonia Synthesis Plant from Intermittent Renewable Energy) project aims to design a flexible scalable plant which is optimised to generate green ammonia from renewable power sources such as wind and solar.

“Although ammonia-based technology is advancing at a lightning rate and looks set to be a major player in a carbon-free future, currently its production creates a significant amount of greenhouse gas,” said Dr Tristan Davenne, Senior Research Engineer in Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Energy Research Unit and the technical lead in the project. 

“To make ammonia fuel truly green and sustainable, we need to think about making the production process carbon free as well.”

Future proofing

Most of the project work will be carried out by engineers from both STFC’s Technology Department and from Frazer-Nash Consultancy, a KBR company. There will also be inputs from scientists at STFC’s ISIS Neutron and Muon Source.

To ensure all practical and logistical needs are considered, the team is working alongside renewable energy developers including Scottish Power, EDF Renewables and Engie.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has awarded around GB£284,000 to the team through its Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply 2 Competition, which aims to create a complete and ready-made design for industry.

Ammonia has traditionally been used as a fertiliser, but it is now increasingly seen as a hydrogen carrier and carbon-free fuel for the future.

It can be used directly as a fuel in internal combustion engines, gas turbines and fuel cells. As such, it looks set to play a significant role in hard to decarbonise industries including shipping, non-electrified rail and electric vehicle charging, as well as a fuel alternative for current methane fired power stations.

The fuel can be stored and transported at higher energy density and lower cost than hydrogen gas or liquid and it has an existing manufacturing and distribution network that has a good safety and reliability record.