thyssenkrupp Uhde and ADNOC ally on ammonia cracking to boost hydrogen economy

January 18, 2023, by Aida Čučuk

thyssenkrupp Uhde, a Germany-based subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Group that specialises in chemical engineering, and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a long-term partnership to create new markets for hydrogen and promote global clean energy value chains with a focus on a joint project development of large-scale ammonia cracking, used to extract hydrogen from ammonia after transportation.

Under the agreement, signed on 16 January 2023 at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the companies will work together to develop projects for large-scale ammonia cracking plants with thyssenkrupp technology.

It will also lead to the exploration of opportunities in the clean energy value chain for the supply and shipment of clean ammonia from the UAE to large-scale ammonia cracking facilities globally.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director of Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth Directorate, ADNOC, said: “ADNOC’s fast-growing hydrogen business is enabled by the UAE’s abundant and competitive energy reserves. We are committed to strengthening our position as a reliable supplier of lower carbon-intensive energy, creating new revenue streams and growing the global market for hydrogen. In doing so, we will work with like-minded partners, such as thyssenkrupp to deliver tangible solutions that contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy sector.”

Martina Merz, CEO of thyssenkrupp AG, said: “At thyssenkrupp we actively contribute to all dimensions of the green transformation. Together with ADNOC, we will take an important step towards large-scale ammonia cracking, thus enabling the global supply chain for green hydrogen. The competencies of thyssenkrupp Uhde, therefore, are an important cornerstone. A perfect example of how partnerships can accelerate the transition, and a perfect example for thyssenkrupp technology at the heart of the green transformation.”

Cord Landsmann, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, stated: “Countries in Europe, along with many others, depend on green hydrogen imports to decarbonise industry and society. Clean ammonia is the best way to transport hydrogen by ship, and together with ADNOC, we will deliver the last piece of the puzzle for global green hydrogen trade at a large scale.”

Stefan Wenzel, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, commented: “We very much support the agreement between ADNOC and thyssenkrupp Uhde in the framework of the Emirati-German energy partnership. The development of large-scale ammonia crackers is an important milestone for the run-up of the global hydrogen economy and we are very pleased that thyssenkrupp Uhde’s contributes with German cutting-edge technology.”

thyssenkrupp said that hydrogen is a critical part of the energy transition as it can provide energy for hard-to-electrify sectors such as long-haul transport, refining, marine fuel, and so on.

The Hydrogen Council estimates that hydrogen could meet 18% of global energy demand by 2050, and according to thyssenkrupp, ammonia is an ideal carrier of hydrogen as it is much easier to compress and transport.