H-Power Secures Deal to Sell 5,000kg Bio-Derived Green Hydrogen from Cracked Ammonia to Protium

chemXplore UK

Overview

H-Power has signed a contract to sell 5,000 kg of fuel cell-grade green hydrogen, derived from bio-ammonia via its pilot ammonia cracking unit, to Protium. The hydrogen is certified to ISO 14687 Grade D with 99.97% purity, facilitating the establishment of ‘virtual depots’ to expand regional distribution capabilities across Southeast and wider UK. H-Power’s distributed portable cracker, HY5, capable of producing up to 500kg/day, is expected to be commercially available by late 2026.

In Depth

Key Findings

H-Power has finalized an agreement to sell 5,000 kilograms of fuel cell-grade green hydrogen, sourced from bio-ammonia processed by its pilot ammonia cracking unit, to Protium, a UK-based green hydrogen solutions company. This supplied hydrogen is certified to ISO 14687 Grade D with a purity of 99.97%, making it directly suitable for fuel cell technologies, including automotive applications. This contract marks a crucial step toward establishing a decentralized green hydrogen supply network in the UK and accelerates the commercialization of H-Power’s innovative ammonia cracking technology.

Technical & Clinical Details

H-Power’s technology involves the high-temperature catalytic decomposition of ammonia (NH3) to produce hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2). This process leverages the advantage of liquid ammonia’s ease of storage and transport, enabling on-demand hydrogen supply at the point of consumption. The company’s distributed portable cracker, the ‘HY5,’ is anticipated to be commercially available by late 2026 and is capable of producing up to 500 kg of hydrogen per day. This capacity is sufficient to meet the demands of medium-sized fuel cell vehicle fleets or stationary power applications. Protium will utilize this hydrogen to establish ‘virtual depots’ across Southeast and broader UK, expanding regional hydrogen distribution capabilities. This approach enhances supply chain flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional centralized hydrogen production and distribution models.

Background & Context

The UK is actively pursuing the establishment of a hydrogen economy to achieve its net-zero emissions targets by 2050. However, hydrogen storage and transport infrastructure remains nascent, with the challenge of distributed, high-purity hydrogen supply being particularly significant. Ammonia has garnered considerable attention as a hydrogen carrier due to its ease of transport and storage as a liquid. Utilizing bio-ammonia as a feedstock further reduces the overall carbon emissions of the production process, creating a truly green hydrogen supply chain. The partnership between H-Power and Protium provides a practical solution to these challenges, accelerating the development of the UK’s hydrogen infrastructure.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

This contract serves to demonstrate that ammonia cracking technology is a viable commercial pathway for green hydrogen supply. With the commercialization of H-Power’s HY5 cracker, the flexibility of on-site hydrogen production and supply is expected to significantly increase across the UK and potentially internationally. For researchers and engineers, this presents opportunities for further advancements in ammonia cracking catalyst efficiency and system integration optimization. For investors, it opens up attractive opportunities in the growing distributed hydrogen supply market, particularly for ammonia-as-a-carrier solutions. This will facilitate broader hydrogen adoption in fuel cell vehicles and industrial applications, making a realistic path towards the UK’s decarbonization goals clearer.