Air Liquide is piloting a facility in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, to convert ammonia back into hydrogen. Ammonia, which is stable and widely traded, offers an easier way to transport hydrogen over long distances.
The process, known as “ammonia cracking”, uses a catalytic reactor to split ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. Hydrogen is then separated and purified for industrial or energy use. Air Liquide’s design integrates heat recovery to improve efficiency while producing zero direct carbon emissions.
This pilot is part of Air Liquide’s broader effort to create a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain. Regions with abundant renewable energy could produce ammonia locally, ship it globally, and convert it back to hydrogen near demand centers.
Projects like the EU-funded ENHANCE initiative aim to scale this technology and could cut up to 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year by replacing conventional hydrogen production. In Asia, a partnership with Vopak in Singapore explores ammonia import, storage, and hydrogen distribution, highlighting the potential for an international hydrogen network.
Challenges remain, including energy requirements for cracking, catalyst durability, and safe handling of ammonia. However, the approach leverages existing infrastructure and provides a practical route to make hydrogen a globally traded clean energy source.
Source:
“Ammonia cracking: the missing link in the global hydrogen supply chain.” Air Liquide.
