Efficient scalable and modular ammonia to hydrogen/electricity conversion system

April 19th, 2024

R&D Focus Areas:
Ammonia, Electricity

Lead Organisation:
Cavendish Renewable Technology Pty Ltd

Partners:
Australian National University, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Northwest University (USA), Emerson Australia Pty Ltd

Status:
Active

Start date:
March 2024

Completion date:
May 2027

Key contacts:
Dr Aniruddha (Ani) Kulkarni, Cavendish Renewable Technology Pty Ltd – engineering@cavendishrenewable.com.au

Funding:
AUD$1.63 million – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

Project total cost:
AUD$3.98 million

Project summary description (as published by ARENA):
The award recipient intends to develop an efficient catalytic reactor which can crack ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen, and then use it in a thermally integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells to generate electricity from the hydrogen (the Project). Ammonia is a promising hydrogen vector due to its high hydrogen storage capacity and stable transport properties.

The objectives for the Project will be achieved through the following Outcomes:

Accelerated commercialisation of renewable hydrogen through innovative R&D in hydrogen storage and distribution technologies;
Increased academic research capacity in the Australian hydrogen sector, and the facilitation of collaboration between research groups and industry;
Improvement in the technology readiness and commercial readiness of hydrogen storage and distribution technologies;
Development of small yet scalable prototype stack and full system demonstrating ammonia-to-electricity conversion in a stand-alone mode with performance-based techno-economic analysis for estimating capital cost; and
Pathway to commercialisation for novel ammonia cracking technologies combined with fuel cells.

Higher degree studies supported:
Two PhD students and two Postdoctoral researchers will be working on this project.

April 2024