Fraunhofer flagship project "AmmonVektor": Green ammonia as a decentralized, cross-sector energy vector

Fraunhofer is developing a sustainable energy carrier for the transportation of hydrogen as part of the Fraunhofer flagship project "AmmonVektor". Researchers from seven Fraunhofer institutes are focusing on the entire value chain: Reactors and catalysts for flexible, energy-efficient ammonia synthesis are being developed, as well as technologies for splitting ammonia and using it to generate electricity, heat and for chemical synthesis. Storage and logistics concepts are also being created and business models developed. All with the aim of making hydrogen available on a decentralized basis in the future.

Subproject 1
Development of processes that enable the operation of decentralized annexes for load-flexible and demand-oriented ammonia synthesis

Subproject 2
Safe logistics alternatives and scenarios for the transportation and storage of ammonia

Subproject 3
Decentralized hydrogen recovery: Optimization of cracking catalysts with regard to their activity and stability for operation in different reactors

Subproject 4
Electricity and heat generation: Conversion of ammonia in solid oxide fuel cell systems and engine combustion

Subproject 5
Value chains: Analysis of optimized technologies in terms of resilience and economic and ecological Sustainability

In the course of the energy transition, the transformation towards renewable energy and raw material sources is essential. This is the only way to meet the UN climate protection targets and ensure Germany's long-term attractiveness as an industrial location. However, establishing a sustainable and reliable energy supply poses immense challenges for society and industry: Renewable resources are not evenly distributed across the globe. Economically strong regions - especially in Europe - are dependent on the import of renewable energy sources from countries in the MENA region, Australia or Chile due to a lack of available free space, sufficient solar radiation and wind power. This includes Greens hydrogen in particular. Transporting it over long distances, under high pressure or cryogenically liquefied, is very costly compared to transporting oil and is not yet feasible due to the lack of suitable ships.

One alternative is to convert it into energy vectors such as ammonia, which can be easily transported in its liquid form without requiring a great deal of energy. In addition, a global transport infrastructure for ammonia has already been established through fertilizer production. Whether as an energy storage medium, fuel, transport medium or as a raw material for the fertilizer industry, ammonia has the potential to replace natural gas in many sections in the future.

Decentralized solutions

While current research and development is mainly focused on the large-scale production and use of ammonia, smaller decentralized annexes adapted to local needs and potentials can make an important contribution to energy sovereignty. On the one hand, such annexes make it possible to provide imported ammonia for decentralized applications on a smaller scale. On the other hand, regionally generated renewable energy can be efficiently stored and distributed, for example for hydrogen supply or as a direct fuel for energy-intensive companies, especially SMEs, that are not connected to planned pipelines. Furthermore, there is a need - for mobility - for the synthesis and use in fuel cells, as hydrogen supplied via pipelines cannot guarantee the high purity requirements.

• Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology UMSICHT
• Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT
• Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB
• Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
• Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics IML
• Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems IMM
• Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWM