Ammonia cracking is gaining momentum as a potential hydrogen carrier for onboard applications and H2SITE’s AMMONIA to H2POWER technology has received Approval in Principle (AiP) from Lloyd’s Register (LR). The technology is an onboard containerized solution that produces fuel-cell-quality hydrogen using ammonia. This hydrogen can then be used by hydrogen fuel cells that can contribute to the vessel’s electrical power, or the hydrogen could be consumed directly in an internal combustion engine.
H2SITE operationally demonstrated its ammonia to hydrogen power technology last November when the Zumaia Offshore’s Bertha B vessel carried the technology onboard, validating its performance in actual offshore conditions. “We are proud to have achieved this milestone, as it validates the design and safety of our onboard ammonia cracking technology for decarbonizing maritime applications based on membrane reactors,” said Jose Medrano Technical Director at H2SITE. The company has already commissioned its first cracker and fuel cell unit last year aboard the supply vessel Bertha B and is currently scaling up the technology and designing MW-scale units.
The AMMONIA to H2POWER systems will be integrated with both propulsion systems and auxiliary power units to serve a range of vessels, from offshore platforms to tankers and gas carriers. The technology is based on H2SITE’s hydrogen-selective membranes that overcome the thermodynamic limitations of the ammonia cracking reaction by recovering hydrogen continuously and resulting in virtually complete ammonia conversion and higher efficiencies at lower temperatures, reducing overall energy consumption and footprint.