A new concept for mid- to long-term storage of electrical energy in ammonia

Project Information

AELECTRA

Grant agreement ID: 101115264

DOI

10.3030/101115264

EC signature date 15 June 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2027

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 4 003 582,50

EU contribution

€ 4 003 582,50

Coordinated by

AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AELECTRA (A new concept for mid- to long-term storage of electrical energy in ammonia)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The overarching goal of the project is to deliver a plug & play energy-efficient electrochemical system that uses RE to produce liquid anhydrous ammonia, from N2 and H2. The electrochemical PEM cell enables storage of electrical energy in ammonia at mild conditions, 50 bar and room temperature (RT). The main novelties are: 1) use of ammonia as a solvent for the PEM membrane in electrochemical ammonia synthesis; 2) uses of mixed gases, electrical pulses and aiming to achieve Electrochemicaly Activated Nitrogen Hydrogenation (EANH), where nitrogen is reduced both electrochemicaly, using protons and electrons and chemically, using hydrogen; 3) recirculation of gases and constant removal of liquid anhydrous ammonia from the synthesis loop.
The system will be demonstrated in continuous operation at variable loads and production rates up to 1 g/h of ammonia, for a duration of 1 month at < 3.5 kWh〖 kg〗_(〖NH〗_3)^(-1) not including the energy to produce H2.
Relevance to EIC Challenge → The system will store “electrical energy at low cost in a high energy density carrier for 1 month (mid to long-term storage to address temporal mismatches). Ammonia as energy carrier can transport stored electrical energy in a “safe and cost competitive way (to address spatial mismatches) and will be a key enabler for a fully decarbonized energy system.”
A new groundbreaking concept of the PEM cell can achieve high energy efficiencies with pulsed DC voltage. AELECTRA aims at coupling RE to the PEM-cell by project-built AC-DC Frequency Power Generator, ensuring high energy efficiency, as explained in the Novelty section below. The product will be validated as input in chemical industry, methionine production, and as electrical energy storage technology at variable loads.

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

In WP1 coordination of submission of 14 deliverables and 1 milestone. Three project meetings have been organized. An amendment has been successfully submitted and accepted, where a new partner FCET joined the consortium from October 2024. AELECTRA has achieved Milestone 1, project visual identity set, making project website, logo, templates for power point presentations and deliverables as well as leaflets.

In WP2, we started the synthesis of nickel and iron based catalysts, as well of first graduated electrodes. First HC membranes have been made and tested, and significant advancement has been made in ammonia effect on ion-exchange membranes, as well as the mechanisms of conductivity in ammonia swelled charged polymers.

In WP2, there has been advancements in making gas recirculation and condensation unit. Initial plan using hydrogen booster for the gas recirculation has not worked. Now magnetic pump is being designed and engineered for the gas recirculation in AELECTRA project, and this is anticipated to be able to effectively circulate the gas during ammonia synthesis. FPG is almost finished and thus Objective 6 of the project is nearly accomplished.

In WP3, it has been shown that Nafion membranes have ion conductivity when exposed to ammonia gas at pressures above 3 bara. The conductivity is high, and strongly indicates that using a 50 micrometer HC membrane, AELECTRA will be able to achieve Objective 1, area resistance of the membrane < 0.8 Ohm cm2. We have advanced the state of the art, as ammonia has not been reported to be able to increase the conductivity of the membrane, purely as a solvent. We have also developed methods to measure ammonia adsorption in the membrane, as well as conductivity over time.

In WP4, we delivered Plan for Dissemination and communication and Plan for exploitation activities.
In WP5 we delivered EIC Energy Storage Portfolio Action Plan and the Report on portfolio activities Y1​.

WP6 is finished, where two deliverables have been submitted. Deliverable 6.1 the name of the Ethics Independent Advisor, who will recommend how to safely work with ammonia, and Deliverable 6.2 the report the advisor prepared, with the recommendation to the consortium and the Commission regarding safety and work with ammonia.

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)

In WP2, molecular dynamic simulations have been performed, where SINTEF simulated swelling of Nafion and HC membranes in ammonia. Such simulations do not exist in the literature. The simulations show decent performance of the membrane in the ammonia atmosphere, however also that the charge transfer likely occurs via ammonia diffusion through the membrane, and not, as we hoped, proton hopping from one ammonia molecule to another.
The simulations show high ammonia solubility in the membrane, which is necessary for the activation of the membrane, going above percolation limit and conductivity. This is experimentally verified in WP3 on Nafion membrane, which shows conductivity at pressures above 3 bara and presents advancement of the state of the art.

In WP2, partner EFT made FPG, which presents advancement of the state of the art, as it is a device that can be used in lab and generate different waveforms, with different bias voltage and amplitude, which opens up a plethora of experiments to be performed in the near future.

In WP3, method to measure conductivity of membrane in time has been developed. This is electrochemical method, that can monitor precisely how much time is needed to measure the steady state conductivity of the membrane.

In WP3, a cell has been designed to be operated at 100 bar, corrosion resistant and a cathode that can accommodate a electrode of a flexible thickness. Such cell does not exist at the market, and presents advancement of the state of the art. (Deliverable 3.1).

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