Exploring Ammonia as a Hydrogen Source for Cement Manufacturing
A new initiative is underway to investigate the potential of using ammonia as an energy-dense and cost-effective source of hydrogen for various industries, including cement manufacturing.
Funding and Partnerships
Over a 12-month period, engineering consultants Stopford and Cranfield University are partnering on this project, which has received funding from Innovate UK through its UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) fund.
Building on Past Success
This research initiative is a continuation of a previous project at Ribblesdale that successfully utilized hydrogen in a net zero fuel mix to power a cement kiln.
Ammonia as a Hydrogen Carrier
The current project aims to assess the feasibility of using ammonia as a low-cost and low-carbon hydrogen carrier. The focus will be on determining the most efficient method to ‘crack’ the ammonia on-site to release hydrogen for use as a fuel in the kiln.
Potential Benefits
Marian Garfield, sustainability director at Heidelberg Materials UK, highlighted the advantages of using ammonia as a fuel enhancer. It could enable the utilization of lower-grade waste-derived fuels to reduce CO2 emissions and power the kiln more sustainably.
Future Implications
If successful, this project could pave the way for further exploration of the commercial viability of using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier in cement manufacturing and other industries.
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