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Hydrogen is a cornerstone of the global energy transition, but its efficient storage and transport remain significant challenges. Ammonia (NH3), a globally traded commodity with established infrastructure, presents a powerful solution as a hydrogen carrier. thyssenkrupp Uhde's advanced ammonia cracking technology unlocks this potential, enabling the efficient release of hydrogen from ammonia at the point of use, paving the way for a sustainable hydrogen economy.
Ammonia usage for energy transport, utilization as an energy carrier or re-conversion to hydrogen
Leveraging over a century of experience in designing and building more than 130 ammonia plants worldwide, thyssenkrupp Uhde is developing an innovative, world-leading ammonia cracking process.
Within the ammonia cracking process, ammonia is cracked into valuable hydrogen. Our ammonia cracking technology is built on a foundation of designs and innovative features that ensure high efficiency and environmental sustainability. The core of our technology is based on the proven Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) process.
Proven SMR-based technology: The core reaction is the decomposition of ammonia over a catalyst in tubular reactors, ensuring reliability and efficiency.
Zero carbon intensity: In our uhde® ammonia cracking process, ammonia and offgas are used as a burner fuel, resulting in zero carbon intensity.
Advanced Emission Control: NOx and N2O, which are formed during the combustion of ammonia containing gas will be eliminated with thyssenkrupp Uhde's own DeNOx- and EnviNOx® technology. This cutting-edge technology meets the highest environmental standards, has a long reference list and is a unique selling point. The EnviNOx® technology is defined as Best Available Technology (BAT) by the European Union.
Low turndown ratios can be reached.
Superior energy efficiency: The uhde® ammonia cracking process is designed for the highest energy efficiency.
Proven components: Utilizes reliable equipment adapted from decades of industrial ammonia and hydrogen plant experience.
Our process is designed for efficiency, reliability, and large-scale hydrogen production:
Feed Preparation & Preheating: Ammonia feedstock is vaporized and preheated
Catalytic Cracking: The gaseous ammonia is routed through a pre-cracker followed by our proprietary ammonia cracker, filled with highly efficient catalysts. The ammonia is decomposed into hydrogen (H2) and nitrogen (N2).
Energy Recovery: The hot product gas stream is cooled down. Our process design features optimized energy integration, maximizing thermal efficiency.
Hydrogen Purification: Depending on the required hydrogen purity, a downstream pressure swing adsorption (PSA) unit is employed to separate the hydrogen from the nitrogen, delivering high-purity hydrogen suitable for various applications, including fuel cells.
Choosing thyssenkrupp Uhde for your ammonia cracking provides significant benefits:
Our in-house experts cover all technical aspects, delivering comprehensive and reliable solutions. Our extensive engineering expertise minimizes risks through deep system knowledge and a thorough understanding of the entire process – not just the catalyst.
The ammonia cracker is based on thyssenkrupp Uhde’s proven steam methane reformer design and proprietary engineering, ensuring exceptional performance and reliability.
Equipped with the EnviNOx® flue gas cleaning system – recognized as Best Available Technology for NOx and N2O reduction – ensuring compliance with the strictest environmental standards.
Engineered for optimal energy efficiency, significantly reducing both operational costs and environmental impact.
Demonstration plant results will validate top-performing, best-available catalysts – giving clients a clear competitive advantage.
The demonstration plant is designed to confirm maximum flexibility in burner and catalyst configurations, enabling adaptable operation.
When firing ammonia, the plant operates with net-zero carbon intensity, supporting a truly climate-neutral production process.
The hydrogen produced via uhde® ammonia cracking is suitable for a wide range of applications:
Get detailed insights into the uhde® ammonia cracking technology.
Ready to unlock the potential of ammonia for sustainable hydrogen production at scale? Discuss your specific project needs with our ammonia cracking specialists.
An ammonia cracking plant is a facility that converts ammonia (NH3) back into hydrogen (H2) at the point of use. This technology is essential for enabling the global hydrogen economy.
Ammonia serves as an ideal carrier for hydrogen because it is energy-dense, easy to store and transport, and benefits from an already established global infrastructure. However, to fully realize its potential as a hydrogen carrier, efficient and sustainable cracking technology is needed at the point of use.
uhde® ammonia cracking provides exactly that – a reliable solution to extract clean hydrogen from ammonia, supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy future.
thyssenkrupp Uhde offers end-to-end project execution – from idea to implementation. Our portfolio includes complete solutions covering process design, technology licensing, engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), as well as ongoing services and digital operation support.
We provide a single point of responsibility, backed by the full power of a global engineering powerhouse.
The uhde® ammonia cracking plant can be supplied with two different fuel options - clean ammonia or natural gas - which is mixed with the PSA off gas (Pressure Swing Absorption).
Turndown rates below 60% are possible.
The plant provides pressurised hydrogen at the purity required by the customer. Fuel cell grade (99.97%) or higher is possible.
uhde® ammonia cracking is designed for large-scale applications, supporting capacities above 5,000 metric tons per day (mtpd) of ammonia – equivalent to over 700 mtpd of clean hydrogen. This scale is made possible by thyssenkrupp Uhde’s proven expertise in large-scale reformer technology.
thyssenkrupp Uhde is partnering with established catalyst suppliers and is currently qualifying and benchmarking several catalysts through final testing in the demo plant. This ensures that customers benefit from the most efficient and reliable catalyst system available.
By mid-2025, thyssenkrupp Uhde considers ammonia cracking technology to be at TRL 6-7. We are taking a realistic approach here, as neither the catalyst nor the ammonia burners have been installed in commercial-scale crackers.
thyssenkrupp Uhde’s EnviNOx® system will be installed in the flue gas duct reaching outstanding 99,9% NOx and N2O separation rate.
Originally developed for nitric acid plants, this technology is recognized as “Best Available Technology” by the European Union and represents a proven success in emissions control.
With over 3,000 plants designed, built and put into successful operation, thyssenkrupp Uhde is one of the leading EPC contractors globally. Our scope of work ranges from new technology developments and advancements through the performance of process design packages, basic engineering, detailed engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction management to plant commissioning and services beyond start-up.
The EPC execution for a commercial-scale uhde® ammonia cracking plant is expected to take between 32 and 38 months, depending on the project location and specific requirements.
For detailed cost estimates and tailored information about the uhde® ammonia cracking plant, please reach out to our Sales team via the contact form. We’ll provide you with the data you need to support your business model.
thyssenkrupp Uhde typically offers engineering and mechanical guarantees, as well as process performance guarantees covering key factors such as production capacity (including turndown rates), energy efficiency, plant emissions, and product quality.
Currently, thyssenkrupp Uhde supports clients with feasibility studies, technical information packages, and CAPEX/OPEX estimates.
Starting in 2026, thyssenkrupp Uhde will offer full Project Definition Packages (PDP) and Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) packages for commercial plants, including permitting support.
The demo plant has a capacity of 28 mtpd of ammonia. The cracker will be equipped with commercial size tubes and burners, which will allow a direct step to TRL following a numbering up rather than a scale-up approach.
The tests conducted will demonstrate:
thyssenkrupp Uhde and Uniper have formed a strategic partnership to develop one of the world’s first large-scale ammonia cracker demonstration plants at Uniper’s Gelsenkirchen-Scholven site. This collaboration combines Uniper’s energy market expertise with thyssenkrupp Uhde’s leading ammonia technology to advance the hydrogen economy, supported by funding from the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The partnership aims to enable industrial-scale hydrogen production from imported ammonia, strengthening energy security and driving sustainable transformation across multiple industries.
The demo plant is scheduled to go online end 2026, followed by testing campaigns.
