Imagine a machine that acts like a battery, but instead of just storing electricity, it turns air and water into liquid ammonia. This process uses wind or solar power to create a valuable chemical that can be stored and shipped. It replaces the old, polluting way of making fertilizer and fuel with a clean, electric version.
Traditional ammonia production and maritime fuels contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, renewable energy producers lose money when electricity is curtailed during peak production.
A benchtop electrochemical N2 electrolyser capable of producing liquid ammonia from air and water using intermittent electricity.
If you are a fertilizer manufacturer dealing with high carbon emissions from the Haber-Bosch process—which causes 1% of annual global GHG emissions—this project developed a proof-of-concept electrolyser that produces sustainable ammonia using renewable electricity.
If you are a shipping company dealing with the need to decarbonize maritime transport—which accounts for 3% of annual GHG emissions—this project developed a way to generate liquid ammonia as a clean e-fuel energy carrier.
If you are a renewable energy producer dealing with curtailed electricity that goes to waste—this project developed a process to bind that excess power into liquid ammonia, increasing the value of your installations.
Based on available project data, specific cost figures or pricing models are not provided; the project focuses on technical feasibility and laying the basis for economical optimization.
The project aims to demonstrate a benchtop process for electrochemical ammonia production. It is moving from TRL2 toward TRL4, meaning it is currently at a laboratory/proof-of-concept scale.
Based on available project data, there are no specific details regarding patents or licensing agreements, though the consortium includes an SME specifically for future scale-up and exploitation.
The project runs from 2022-11-01 to 2025-10-31. The final deliverable is intended to initiate a venture for scaling up after the benchtop demonstration.
The system is designed for direct coupling to sustainable energy sources, specifically to utilize intermittent renewable electricity that would otherwise be curtailed.
The consortium is heavily weighted toward commercial application, with an industry ratio of 62%. It comprises 8 partners across 5 countries, including 5 industrial entities (3 of which are SMEs), 2 universities, and 1 research institute. This structure suggests a strong focus on moving the technology from the lab to the market, with the SME specifically designated for future scale-up and exploitation.
Contact HASKOLI ISLANDS (University of Iceland)
Contact us to connect with the VERGE consortium for TRL4 technology transfer opportunities.
