HyPACT project, research into an efficient process for cracking green ammonia into hydrogen
HyPACT
2022-2025
The HyPACT (Hydrogen through Plasma Ammonia Cracking Technology) project is supported by the Belgian Federal Energy Transition Fund (selected within the autumn 2021 call). Project partners are UAntwerpen, KULeuven and WaterstofNet.
Ammonia (NH₃) is a promising carrier for long-distance transport of green hydrogen, mainly due to its high energy density and the fact that it is a CO2-free carrier. However, the application of ammonia is limited to some industrial sectors, so 'cracking' ammonia back to hydrogen is an essential step. Existing processes to crack ammonia 'thermo-catalytically' are energy-intensive and use costly catalysts.
The HyPACT project investigates whether an alternative process, based on plasma technology, can provide a more efficient method to convert ammonia to hydrogen.
Three Flemish research groups are jointly working on this:
The University of Antwerp brings to this project the knowledge on plasma reactors (research group PLASMANT, Professor Doctor Annemie Bogaerts) and on ultra-pure extraction of hydrogen from different carriers (research group DuEL, Professor Doctor Patrice Perrault). KULeuven is contributing its expertise on catalysts (research group COKKAT, Professor Doctor Johan Martens).
Through the project's advisory board, members of the Hydrogen Import coalition (Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Deme, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys) and the Walloon R&D centres Certech and Materia Nova, are involved.
Role of WaterstofNet
WaterstofNet initiated the project, is doing the project coordination and is also leading a work package on benchmarking. In this, the proposed technology is compared with other technologies for cracking ammonia and with other carriers. It also monitors which applications are being developed to use ammonia directly (fuel cells, ships, gas turbines...).
WaterstofNet also ensures the link with interested industrial stakeholders, such as the Hydrogen Import Coalition.
