Plasma as the Key to Decentralized Production of Green Ammonia

As a chemical derivative of hydrogen (H₂), ammonia (NH₃) will play a key role in the energy sector and make a significant contribution to achieving climate goals. Ammonia enables hydrogen storage and transport with higher energy density. To harness its potential for the decarbonisation of the energy industry, technologies must be developed to produce green ammonia decentral at competitive prices.

The PlaNH3 project focuses on investigating an alternative method for producing ammonia from nitrogen, green hydrogen, and green electricity using non-thermal plasma reactors, which has been insufficiently researched to date.

The project approach enables decentralised ammonia production in small-scale facilities at ambient temperature and pressure. Due to its flexible mode of operation, it is ideally suited to the use of fluctuating renewable energy sources.

Project goals:

• Optimization of the plasma reactor through accompanying plasma and kinetic modeling as well as CFD simulation.
• Creation of a digital twin for the holistic evaluation of operating variants.
• Potential analysis for integrating the technology into Austria's existing industrial and energy systems.
• Technoecological evaluation of the technology and derivation of recommendations for action.

The promising process offers Austrian companies the potential to become technology leaders in the field of sustainable ammonia production.

• Technische Universität Graz Institut für Chemische Verfahrenstechnik und Umwelttechnik
• Prozess Optimal CAP GmbH