Roto-reformer Ammonia Cracker (RAC) for decentralised on-site, on-demand hydrogen refuelling station

Hydrogen is widely anticipated to play a crucial role in decarbonising HGV freight and public transport particularly bus operations. Net-zero regulations will ban the sale of new diesel HGVs/trucks by 2040\. However, the challenges of delivering an economically viable hydrogen refuelling network (HRS) at initial/low infrequent demand combined with supplying hydrogen at cost-parity to diesel for commercially viable freight/transport operations are significant barriers for operator confidence to transition to hydrogen vehicles. Ammonia is gaining traction as a zero-carbon high density, low-cost hydrogen energy-carrier, overcoming the challenge of transporting and storing hydrogen with already well-established global logistics infrastructure for bulk transport. Ammonia-cracking plants to extract hydrogen are in the early, pre-commercial stages of development. All are centralised high volume cracking technologies requiring combustion to achieve the high temperatures for the cracking process to occur. This approach risks environmental gains from green ammonia production and does not overcome the challenges and costs of transporting hydrogen to the point of use for refuelling hydrogen vehicles. This project will develop a highly energy-efficient ammonia cracking technology in a compact form to deliver commercially viable on-demand hydrogen production at the point of use. The project outcomes will enable the development of hydrogen refuelling station networks in line with current diesel refuelling operational and business models.