Hydrogen Storage and TRansport using Ammonia

Project Information

HySTrAm

Grant agreement ID: 101058643

DOI

10.3030/101058643

Project closed

EC signature date 16 May 2022

Start date 1 June 2022

End date 30 November 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 5 707 538,27

EU contribution

€ 5 707 393,00

Coordinated by

AALBORG UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HySTrAm (Hydrogen Storage and TRansport using Ammonia)

Reporting period: 2022-06-01 to 2023-11-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Green ammonia - as a source of hydrogen - is essential for the European energy system of the future.
The HySTrAm project will demonstrate a compact containerised ammonia synthesis system which is based on two main consecutive stages:
1. A short-term storage hydrogen vessel which will serve as a buffer to store and transport the hydrogen produced by electrolysis. Within the hydrogen vessel, new ultraporous material will be identified and optimised through machine learning technology
2. An ammonia synthesis reactor based on an improved Haber-Bosch process where the stored hydrogen will react with nitrogen to form ammonia using the novel catalysts and sorbents developed in HySTrAm.
The aim of the HySTrAm project is to build a plant at Technology Readiness Level (TRL5) which demonstrates a production process of green ammonia that is equally cost effective and commercially attractive.

The HySTrAm project has the following objectives:
• Development of functional catalyst/sorbent materials for ammonia synthesis;
• Development of new ultra-porous materials with high H2 capacity;
• Realisation of a lightweight composite vessel for physical-adsorption hydrogen storage;
• Design, construction, optimisation and demonstration of dynamically operated packed bed reactors for ammonia synthesis;
• Demonstration of the overall HySTrAm solution at TRL5; and
• Validation of a business case.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

A consortium of 16 partners from large, small, and medium-sized enterprises and research and technology organisations covering the whole European energy value chain is involved in the development of the HySTrAm solutions.
Since the project start in June 2022, the involved partners are working collaboratively in the optimisation of technologies, construction, operation and validation of the pilot, in the assessment of their sustainable performance, as well as in the communication, dissemination and exploitation of activities and results.
Aalborg University (Denmark), coordinates the implementation of the project.

Major achievements and results:
In the first 18 months the project has made significant progress at the same time, some adjustments had to be made to comply with the budget and the physical limits of the materials
We have tested variuos types of absorbents and catalyst beds
We have finalized the model of the demonstrator (sequential layers catalyst/absorbent)
On the MOF development, a library of materials has been synthetized and with the help of IA, we have developed new MOF structures
Atomic level modelling for ammonia synthesis on Ruthenium surfaces

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The HySTrAm project will develop innovative solutions to produce ‘green ammonia’ from hydrogen at lower pressure, thereby making the process more efficient. These solutions will also aim to solve the energy challenges that Europe is facing today. In addition, this will strengthen the Europe’s technological leadership, and create economic growth and jobs across the full European value chain.
The HySTrAm project will allow to store “green ammonia” from hydrogen at lower pressure and to transport it in much safer conditions, enabling a more decentralized process. Moreover, the use of porous materials and pressure cylinders is expected to create a buffering facility of hydrogen which facilitates the stable operation of the reactor, facilitating a more effcient coupling with renewables for hydrogen production.
The innovative results will have technological, economical and societal benefits:
• Resilient, sustainable and secure (critical) raw materials value chains for EU industrial ecosystems, in support of the twin green and digital transformations;
• New sustainable-by-design materials with enhanced functionalities and applications in a wide range of industrial processes and consumer products;
• Leadership in producing materials that provide solutions for clean, toxic/pollutant free environment, decarbonizing industry, and safeguarding civil infrastructures;
• Leadership in circular economy that strengthens cross-sectorial cooperation along the value chain and enable SMEs to transform their activities and business models; and
• Increased adoption of key digital and enabling technologies in industrial value chains and strategic sectors, paying particular attention to SMEs and start-ups.

Clustering event, November/2023

Project meeting in Ljublijana, May/2023

Project meeting in Eindhoven, November/2023