Hydrogen is expected to become a critical part of the energy mix as the world transitions to cleaner energy sources. Safe, reliable and well-positioned storage and (re)conversion infrastructure is required to make the ‘hydrogen economy’ a reality. Hydrogen has a very high energy content per unit of weight, making it a promising source of fuel. However, this simple atom is difficult and energy intensive to store or work with, because it must be kept at extremely low temperatures and at very high pressure.
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One solution is to attach hydrogen atoms to nitrogen atoms, resulting in ammonia (NH3). Ammonia can be stored under relatively ‘normal’ conditions, making it a good option for transporting hydrogen over long distances and storing it in tanks. When needed, the ammonia can be ‘cracked’ back into hydrogen and nitrogen, with hydrogen being distributed by pipeline to be used as fuel.
Because hydrogen can be stored (as ammonia) until it is needed, it complements variable renewable energy (VRE) sources such as solar and wind, whose availability tends to fluctuate. Our ambition is to build a European network of ammonia import terminals and crackers in key ports that will feed into the hydrogen backbone system – the pipeline network that will run throughout Europe.
Customers will be able to store their ammonia in our tanks, in the form of cold liquid. At the right moment, they can provide ammonia to our cracker to be decoupled. Their hydrogen can then be injected into the pipeline system.