A new concept for mid- to long-term storage of electrical energy in ammonia

Introduction

AELECTRA will develop a groundbreaking system for energy-efficient long-term electrical energy storage in ammonia. The high risk/high gain concept has the potential to outperform conventional thermochemical Haber-Bosch Reactor (HBR) in CAPEX, at similar OPEX.

Market Suitability

It is suitable for decentralised on-site use, filling a gap in the market for production scales < 1000 kg/h NH3 (1 kW - 10 MW).

Project Objectives

The heart of the AELECTRA proposal is to deliver a turnkey system that will demonstrate NH3 synthesis and separation at lab scale. The state of the art will be advanced by:

1. Identification of optimal reactor conditions
2. Developing reactor & system components
3. AC/DC power supply

Decentralized Energy Storage

The AELECTRA system is suitable for decentralized use and can store the energy where it is produced. Thus, it can address both spatial and temporal variations in renewable energy production.

Industry Impact

It can disrupt the chemical industry by delivering the same product as the Haber-Bosch Process, however at lower capital costs, largely by eliminating the need for expensive heat exchangers and compressors.

Relevant Sectors

The AELECTRA system will be relevant for multiple industry sectors, including:

• Power production
• Food
• Pharma
• Shipping
• Fertilizer production

Collaborative Efforts

To reach these ambitious goals, AELECTRA will draw on the complementary expertise of three research teams (AU, VITO, and SINTEF); catalyst manufacturer C2CAT; power to X and X to power industry player ELTRONIC Fueltech; ANORI, a company investing in renewable energy projects in the northern part of the globe (Greenland); and ADISSEO, a French company that produces methionine using ammonia as feedstock.