AFC Energy launched its new ammonia cracker technology platform—an innovative new H₂ generation solution that aims to unlock the value of ammonia as a H₂ carrier fuel across European and Asian energy markets. AFC Energy’s technology platform will help overcome challenges related to H₂ generation, storage and transport. It will pave the way for greater usage of green H₂ in hard-to-abate industries that are seeking to decarbonize.

AFC Energy’s cracker technology has been accelerated in response to material growth in ammonia imports recently contracted into Europe (as a H₂ carrier fuel) to support the EU’s sustainable energy policies and address energy independence challenges arising out of the Ukraine conflict. 

However, the region is ill-prepared to exploit the increase in ammonia imports due to a lack of cracker capacity; a technology that has faced limited demand and negligible investment in recent decades.

The launch of AFC Energy’s advanced technology platform for ammonia crackers is the latest development in its Flex-Fuel strategy, designed to meet the growing need for low cost, onsite H₂ production. The new technology platform is a highly innovative development with no comparable rival.

AFC Energy is in discussions with companies and industries ranging from ship owners, utilities, OEMs and industrial scale H₂ users, validating the emerging opportunities in this nascent industry. 

The ammonia cracker’s modular design and low-cost system architecture makes the cracker readily scalable from small-scale H₂ production to multi-million tpy. This modern solution can help meet the growing demand for clean H₂ power in off-grid applications, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors.

The market for AFC Energy’s ammonia cracker technology is expected to be substantial; IRENA notes that by 2050, in the 1.5°C scenario, the market for ammonia as a fuel for maritime transport and for stationary power is larger than all current markets for ammonia combined. Ammonia has been used as the preferred carrier fuel for customers of H₂ fuel across the world and demand is forecast to reach 223 MMt by 2030 in a 1.5°C scenario, a massive increase from today’s levels.

Adam Bond, Chief Executive Officer at AFC Energy, said, “AFC Energy’s new ammonia cracking technology platform takes us into the H₂ generation market facilitating renewed energy security and reliability. Clean ammonia is affirmed as a preferred means of transporting H₂ to end users, particularly in Europe and Asia, and now AFC Energy is targeting these key markets to enable a faster, more widespread adoption of H₂ where storage and transportation challenges might otherwise present short-term challenges.”