Project partners UAntwerp, KULeuven, and WaterstofNet are examining if a different technique, based on plasma technology, might produce a more effective approach to convert ammonia (NH3) into hydrogen as part of the HyPACT project.
Ammonia is a suitable carrier for the long-distance transportation of green hydrogen, primarily due to its high energy density and lack of CO2 emissions.
However, as ammonia is only used in a few industrial fields, the process of “splitting” ammonia back into hydrogen is crucial. The current methods for “thermo-catalytic” ammonia cracking require expensive catalysts and take a lot of energy.
Therefore, the three partners in the HyPACT (‘Hydrogen via Plasma Ammonia Cracking Technology’) project will look into whether the plasma-based technique can convert ammonia into hydrogen more effectively.
The University of Antwerp adds expertise in plasma reactors and ultra-pure hydrogen extraction from various carriers to this project.
WaterstofNet manages project coordination, contributes application expertise, and maintains contact with key industrial parties.
The federal Energy Transition Fund for Belgium is funding the 2.5-year initiative.
