Innovative Ammonia-to-Hydrogen Technology for Floating Import Terminals
Key Ideas
  • Wärtsilä Gas Solutions and Höegh Evi have developed the first floating ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker, allowing for production of hydrogen from transported ammonia at floating import terminals.
  • The modular design of the ammonia cracker enables integration into floating storage and regasification units and dedicated floating hydrogen terminals, with a scalable capacity of up to 210,000 metric tons of hydrogen annually.
  • The project in Norway received funding of EUR5.9 million, with partners including Sustainable Energy, Institute for Energy Technology, University of South-East Norway, and BASF SE.
  • The technology aligns with the EU’s REPower strategy to import renewable hydrogen, offering a sustainable and stable energy source for emission-intensive industries as part of the emerging hydrogen grid.
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions and Höegh Evi have successfully completed the development of a groundbreaking technology, claiming to have created the first floating ammonia-to-hydrogen cracker. This innovative technology is specifically designed for floating import terminals, enabling the production of hydrogen from transported ammonia. The ammonia cracker's modular design allows for seamless integration into both hybrid floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) as well as dedicated floating hydrogen terminals. With a remarkable annual send-out capacity of up to 210,000 metric tons of hydrogen, the technology also provides flexibility in ammonia storage capacities ranging from 10,000 to 120,000 cubic meters. The project has garnered significant support, receiving approximately EUR5.9 million in funding from the Norwegian government's green platform program, in collaboration with various partners such as Sustainable Energy, Institute for Energy Technology, University of South-East Norway, and BASF SE. The initiative aligns with the EU’s REPower strategy, which aims to import 10 million metric tons per year of renewable hydrogen by 2030. By leveraging floating infrastructure equipped with ammonia cracking technology, the project seeks to facilitate large-scale imports of hydrogen, catering to emission-intensive industries and ensuring balance within the energy system. Despite the challenges associated with hydrogen storage and transport due to its low volumetric energy density, the conversion of ammonia back to hydrogen through the ammonia cracker offers a viable solution for distribution into local energy grids. The overall sentiment of the article is positive, emphasizing the potential of hydrogen as a sustainable fuel and its pivotal role in the evolving energy landscape.
ADVANCEH2

Our vision is to be the world's leading online platform for advancing the use of hydrogen as a critical piece needed to deliver net-zero initiatives and the promise of a clean H2 energy future.

© 2025 AdvanceH2, LLC. All rights reserved.