TEN.efzn – State graduate program hydrogen and hydrogen derivative ammonia

The aim of the graduate program hydrogen and hydrogen derivative ammonia is to investigate economic, ecological, systemic, safety-related and social aspects along the entire life cycle of the hydrogen derivative ammonia. This includes the synthesis, utilization and hydrogen recovery.

Motivation and research approach

In current economic discussions about energy, ammonia plays an important role alongside green hydrogen. Ammonia can be liquefied at low pressures, making it easy to transport and thus an efficient hydrogen carrier due to its high amount of hydrogen. In addition, ammonia is synthesized carbon-free from water and air, allowing it to be produced anywhere in the world without the need for an additional carbon source and shipped globally. Therefore, ammonia will become of great importance for Germany and especially the importing state of Lower Saxony in the future.

Ammonia is then either used directly as a chemical or energy source or is cracked back into its elements, recovering hydrogen in the process. All methods of using and converting ammonia yield nitrogen and water again, thus closing global material cycles. It is therefore necessary to consider the entire ammonia value chain from a technical, economic, ecological, systematic and safety perspective.