FLEXIBLE AMMONIA SYNTHESIS TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY STORAGE (FASTER)

The increased penetration of variable renewable energy (VRE) in the future will require backup technologies due to intermittency, and long-term energy storage in the form of a chemical vector (such as green ammonia) is increasingly favoured.

FASTER will develop and demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility and reliability of a non-noble catalyst based on metal nitrides/ hydrides/amides active at low temperature (< 250 C) and pressure (<50 bar) in combination with a new reactor concept using structured catalysts and temperature swing absorption unit for synthesis and separation at TRL4.

The use of highly thermally conductive reactor and absorption scaffolds will increase heat transfer, allowing fast transitions during operation at fluctuating loads (0-100 %). FASTER is a consortium of 5 companies and 3 research universities.

The consortium aims to develop (1) novel catalysts highly active at low temperature and pressure for ammonia synthesis, (2) improved heat and mass transport reactor concepts using structured reactors and absorbers, (3) develop and validate a demonstration installation for the FASTER technology, and (4) generating accurate and reliable techno-economic models to identify suitable locations to deploy the concept across Europe and beyond.

The innovation tasks will be supported by a dissemination, communication and exploitation strategy focusing on an effective market roll-out by the industrial project partners in the European Union.

For this purpose, FASTER gathers a selected group of private and public organizations as Advisory Board Members (ENEL, STEDIN, UPL Mumbay, Fertiberia, Abengoa, TNO, Ammonia Energy Association, Smart Port Systems, and Port of Huelva) to ensure fast-tracking of technology take-up.

Ultimately, FASTER will deliver an affordable and clean alternative for hydrogen storage and transport using ammonia as vector in the EU context.