Ammonia is gaining increasing attention due to its potential role in clean energy systems, driven by its unique properties. Ammonia (NH3) contains a high hydrogen content (17.6% by weight), making it an efficient hydrogen carrier essential for many fuel cell technologies. Unlike elemental hydrogen, ammonia offers significant advantages in storage and transportation, as it can be stored as a liquid under relatively mild conditions, resulting in easier handling and lower costs. Another advantage is the carbon-free combustion.

Despite these benefits, challenges persist in achieving sustainable production processes of ammonia with industrial potential. The direct electrocatalytic generation of ammonia from nitrogen (N2) is highly challenging, yielding mostly unacceptably low efficiencies in the current state of the art. Even alternative approaches, such as producing hydrogen via electrolysis and subsequently synthesizing ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process, have limitations in terms of overall sustainability and efficiency.

A German research institute specializing in material and component development for electrolysis processes is defining a project to address these challenges. The project aims to demonstrate the electrocatalytic production of ammonia by leveraging an innovative approach: the intermediate production of nitrogen oxide species (NO?). This strategy is expected to significantly enhance reaction efficiency and achieve technological maturity for large scale ammonia synthesis.
The project focuses on the following objectives:

• Sustainable synthesis of ammonia from N2 through an innovative reaction cascade.
• Comprehensive process design, demonstration, and techno-economic evaluation to ensure viability.
• Significant advancements in all key reaction steps and system technologies to overcome current limitations.

By tackling these critical aspects, the project aims to establish a breakthrough in the sustainable and efficient production of ammonia for clean energy systems
In accordance with the above aim and project steps, the German research institute, as coordinator, is requesting industrial partners with the goal to submit a project proposal under the following call: HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-02-02

The call deadline is 04 February 2025, therefore the EOI deadline is set for 17 January 2025.
The consortium currently consists of 6 partners from 4 countries.

Sought are industrial partners who, as potential end users of the technology to be developed, are willing to participate in the testing and validation of the project results. Only non-German EOIs will be considered.
Advantages and innovation
Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
• Demonstrated experience in the industrial use of ammonia (or an interest in it), experience in ammonia-based fuel systems or related end-user applications, such as fuel-cells.
• Experience with integrating innovative solutions into existing industrial processes is a plus

Framework program
Horizon Europe
Call title and identifier
Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply (HORIZON-CL5-2024-D3-02)
Submission and evaluation scheme
Anticipated project budget
Coordinator required
Yes
Deadline for EoI
17/01/2025
Deadline of the call
04/02/2025
Project duration in weeks
Web link to the call
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-cl5-2024-d3-02-02