Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde partner on ammonia cracker technology

German energy company Uniper and industrial technology firm thyssenkrupp Uhde have formed a strategic partnership to develop large-scale ammonia cracking technology, a crucial component for global hydrogen trading infrastructure.

The collaboration will see the construction of one of the world's first demonstration plants at Uniper's Gelsenkirchen-Scholven site, with a capacity to process 28 tonnes of ammonia daily. The facility will catalytically break down ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen at high temperatures, producing pure hydrogen through a subsequent purification process.

This demonstration plant will serve as the foundation for a planned hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven, where the technology will be scaled up for large industrial applications. The partnership aims to convert imported ammonia into hydrogen on an industrial scale, making it available for energy, steel, and chemical industries.

"Uniper is actively committed to establishing hydrogen as an important component of the future energy mix," said Holger Kreetz, Uniper's Chief Operating Officer. The company views the partnership as essential for meeting Germany's future hydrogen import needs whilst strengthening economic resilience.

Nadja Håkansson, Chief Executive of thyssenkrupp Uhde, highlighted the combination of Uniper's market leadership and her company's proven ammonia technology expertise as key to the project's success.

The project has received funding support from North Rhine-Westphalia's Ministry of Economic Affairs, with Minister Mona Neubaur describing hydrogen as "one of the key technologies for the future viability of our industry."

Construction has commenced, with commissioning scheduled for late 2026. The technology addresses a critical gap in global hydrogen infrastructure by utilising ammonia's superior transport properties compared to pure hydrogen.