Hydrofuel Canada Inc. has signed an exclusive license deal with the Georgia Institute of Technology for its patent-pending MAPS technology, which uses a gas-phase electrochemical method to produce high-yield, sustainable ammonia from air and water with unparalleled efficiency.
The use of MAPS technology in conjunction with renewable energy to manufacture cost-effective green ammonia is a significant advancement. It’s a game-changer to combine that ammonia with Kontak’s technology, which Hydrofuel previously bought.
When these technologies are combined, Hydrofuel can generate Green NH3 for as little as $220 per tonne using $.02/kWh energy, whereas fossil-fuel-derived NH3 is now retailing for $1,500 to $2,000 per tonne.
Green Hydrogen can be extracted from the ammonia and sold for roughly $1.50 per kilogram, compared to up to $15 per kilogram for standard green H2. Even at $.08/kWh, green ammonia generation and hydrogen release will be less expensive than any hydrocarbon fuel.
The MAPS ammonia production method employs hollow hybrid plasmonic nanocages to build a highly efficient electrocatalyst for ammonia synthesis from nitrogen (N2) and electrolyzed water (H2O) in a gas- and liquid-phase system at ambient temperatures and pressures.
Ammonia is a substantial energy transporter and a key component in fertilizer production across the world. Researchers at Georgia Tech have created a sustainable and ecologically friendly production process that allows for a high ammonia output rate while using less energy.
One component nitrogen and three parts hydrogen make up ammonia (NH3) molecules. Because it is carbon-free, contains 1.5 times more hydrogen than liquid hydrogen (H2), and may significantly cut global GHG emissions by substituting fossil fuels, NH3 is a potential and ecologically benign fuel source.
Ammonia storage is more efficient than pure hydrogen storage since it does not leak through container and pipeline barriers. The fuel’s atomic weight makes it ideal for transporting hydrogen in commuter, eVTOL, drone, and normal aircraft, as well as maritime, transport truck, agricultural, industrial, and power generating applications.
MAPS technology can decentralize ammonia and hydrogen production while using substantially less energy than present techniques, allowing for local or on-site production using renewable energy sources and long-term energy storage.
Reza Nazemi, co-inventor of hydro fuel and MAPs, is in talks with Colorado State University to produce a commercial application and demonstration of the MAPS technology in July 2022.
Advantages and Benefits of MAPs Technology
Simplified process: This allows for ammonia synthesis using a gas-phase system with minimal or no extra separation and purification stages.
Reduced carbon footprint: This allows for decentralized manufacturing, allowing farmers to create their own fertilizer on-site instead of transporting it.
Long-term energy storage: Renewable energy is stored in the form of liquid ammonia including hydrogen may be conveniently transported and provided to end-users for a variety of energy and transportation applications (e.g., power, combined heating, and cooling).
Kontak’s method has been shown to efficiently release hydrogen from a dozen different possible carrier molecules. Anhydrous ammonia has the largest storage capacity of the carriers, with 17.3 percent hydrogen by weight held in liquid form, similar to propane.
The unique reactor developed by Kontak is the most successful way of releasing hydrogen to date. The hydrogen is purified before being sent to a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine. The technique was created thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. The USPTO #10,207,241B2 Hydrogen Release Module has patents pending in several countries.
