Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS
Background
A successful energy transition towards renewable energy and raw material sources is essential to ensure Germany's attractiveness as an industrial location. However, the uneven geographical distribution of renewable resources, such as available free areas with sufficient solar radiation or wind power, makes it difficult to establish a sustainable and reliable energy supply. As a result, so-called energy vectors (transportable, carbon-free, chemical energy sources) are becoming increasingly important. In its liquid form, green ammonia is technically easy to transport and does not require a great deal of energy. It has the potential to replace natural gas as a fuel, energy storage and transportation medium. This requires investment in research along the ammonia value chain in order to demonstrate the economic and ecological potential of the energy vector and drive forward technological development.
Project description
The project is developing new technologies for the development, storage, distribution and direct use of renewable energies based on ammonia. In the medium to long term, this can save costs, protect the climate and resources and ensure energy security in Germany. The economic and ecological potential of these technologies will be evaluated using techno-economic analyses and life cycle assessments. Based on these findings, business models will be developed for the most promising application scenarios.
Services
As part of the lead project, the technologies previously (further) developed along the ammonia value chain are examined with regard to their economic and ecological sustainability. The aim is to provide economic support for the research activities on technology development and process design and to evaluate industrially feasible application scenarios during the development phases. In this context, all technologies and process routes investigated in the AmmonVektor project will be modeled and evaluated in terms of technological efficiency, economic viability and ecological impact. On this basis, sustainable business models will be identified for relevant fields of application and recommendations for the further development of decentralized ammonia utilization concepts will be derived.
Project partners: Fraunhofer UMSICHT, Fraunhofer ICT, Fraunhofer IGB, Fraunhofer IML, Fraunhofer IMM, Fraunhofer ITWM,
Project duration: 1.1.2024 – 31.12.2026