The UK’s clean energy landscape has taken a significant step forward with the launch of a prototype facility that manufactures green ammonia using renewable electricity. This innovative process, developed by engineers at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Energy Research Unit, enables the storage of otherwise unused energy as hydrogen molecules within green ammonia. This stored hydrogen can later be extracted and used to generate electricity when needed, offering a flexible solution to energy storage challenges.
The ASPIRE project, funded as part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, aims to reduce the costs of decarbonisation and help the UK meet its climate change commitments. The new technology facilitates green ammonia synthesis from unused wind energy, aligning ammonia generation with the fluctuating availability and cost of renewable energy supply. Data collected from the operational plant will be crucial for future scaling efforts, ultimately enabling green ammonia to compete commercially with traditional fossil fuel-based production.
This development is timely, as the UK invests £1.1bn in offshore wind to create a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030, part of the broader commitment to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035. Green ammonia presents significant advantages over traditional production methods, including a 90% reduction in carbon emissions relative to conventional ‘grey’ ammonia production and a 70% reduction compared to ‘blue’ ammonia production. The technology is scalable, operates directly from renewable sources, and is ideal for integration with the UK’s expanding renewable energy infrastructure.
The green ammonia plant offers a versatile solution that addresses energy efficiency by utilising otherwise unused wind energy. It has the potential to decarbonise shipping and fertiliser manufacturing, provide grid resilience by converting stored ammonia back to electricity during peak demand, and supply low-carbon hydrogen for fuel via ammonia cracking.
Tristan Davenne, Principal Engineer at the STFC Energy Research Unit and ASPIRE project lead, highlighted the significance of the project: “What makes ASPIRE notable is its ability to produce ammonia at variable rates and its readiness for scalability in industry. ASPIRE is not just a technical achievement; it is a practical solution that can transform unused wind energy from a challenge into a valuable resource. The data we gather from this operational plant will be invaluable as we work towards scaling this technology to make green ammonia compete with fossil-fuel-based production.”
This advancement could shape the future of the energy sector by providing a viable alternative to fossil fuels, enhancing energy storage capabilities, and contributing to the UK’s decarbonisation goals. The successful implementation and scaling of this technology could set a precedent for global clean energy initiatives, fostering innovation and collaboration in the pursuit of a sustainable future.