AFC Energy hits another milestone in NH3 cracker technology development

AFC Energy, a UK-based provider of hydrogen power generation technologies, has achieved another milestone in the accelerated development of its modular, scalable ammonia cracker technology. The company informed that the technology achieved 99.99% hydrogen from single reactor testing, with the results being independently tested by the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL).

The testing confirmed that ammonia levels in the hydrogen stream were materially less than the limits required to meet ISO 14687:2019 standards for vehicular and stationary fuel cells, AFC Energy said, adding that the ammonia cracker technology is complementary to the company’s growing H-Power fuel cell generator offering.

The company further noted that the results highlight the ability of the technology to deliver fuel cell grade hydrogen on a modular, scalable basis.

The cracker is said to enable ammonia, a compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, to be “cracked” into discreet hydrogen and nitrogen molecules. The hydrogen can then be consumed as a fuel in fuel cells or combustion with the nitrogen emitted to the atmosphere with zero carbon emissions.

Adam Bond, Chief Executive of AFC Energy, commented: “Achieving the ISO grade for ammonia PPB in hydrogen from AFC Energy’s proprietary ammonia cracker is a significant milestone for the company. Achieving the ISO standard is key for the global adoption of ammonia as a sustainable clean fuel.”

“Modular ammonia crackers have a range of applications and with the progress we’ve made to date, not just in cracker technology, but also in the integration of purification technologies, opens the way for adoption of ammonia fuel across both combustion and fuel cell energy applications in stationary and maritime applications.”

To note, ammonia is expected to play a growing role in the decarbonization of industry and maritime and is considered an enabler to the international trade of hydrogen where hydrogen is transported by ship in the form of ammonia and then cracked back into hydrogen at its target import destination.