thyssenkrupp Uhde and Johnson Matthey forge path for low-carbon blue ammonia solutions

Leading construction engineering provider thyssenkrupp Uhde and Johnson Matthey (JM), a sustainable technologies firm, have announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly offer a fully integrated low-carbon blue ammonia solution.

"With this strong partnership we further broaden our portfolio of climate-friendly solutions and can help our customers even better to reach their sustainability goals," Lucretia Löscher, Chief Operating Officer of thyssenkrupp Uhde, said in a statement.

Ammonia's role has expanded beyond being a vital ingredient for producing fertilizer in the agricultural sector. Now, it is used as a decarbonized carrier and supplier of hydrogen energy because it is easier to store and transport when compared to pure hydrogen, in efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.

The role of ammonia fuel in the energy transition

Low-carbon ammonia movement can utilize existing infrastructure, making it a leading energy transition solution. It is ready to capture, store, and ship vast quantities of hydrogen for use in the power, shipping sector, and industrial value chains globally.

thyssenkrupp Uhde has licensed, engineered, and constructed over 130 ammonia plants worldwide since 1928. It is market-leading in plants greater than 3,000 metric tonnes per day with its unique Uhde dual-pressure technology.

JM's LCH technology uses the autothermal reformer alone or alongside the gas-heated reformer. This technology was utilized in several of the world's first large-scale blue hydrogen projects, including BP's H2Teesside, a 700-megawatt low-carbon hydrogen production plant, and the H2H Saltend project with Equinor and Linde for a 600-megawatt low-carbon hydrogen production plant.

Alberto Giovanzana, Managing Director – Catalyst Technologies at JM, highlighted, "We know multiple routes are needed in the energy transition, and ammonia provides several options because it can be used directly in power and shipping industries, and as a hydrogen carrier to safely transport hydrogen to areas it is not easy to produce."