Air Liquide has successfully started up the world’s first industrial-scale ammonia-to-hydrogen pilot unit at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Belgium, with a conversion capacity of 30 tons of ammonia per day. The breakthrough technology opens new pathways for low-carbon hydrogen supply chains, crucial for decarbonizing industry and mobility.

The pilot unit demonstrates a key missing technology for converting ammonia into hydrogen and addresses the challenge of transporting hydrogen efficiently over long distances. Ammonia (NH3), composed of hydrogen and nitrogen, can be produced cost-effectively in regions rich in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro. Existing global infrastructure for ammonia production and transport allows for its export to end-users worldwide, where it can be “cracked” back into hydrogen.

Air Liquide’s proprietary ammonia cracking technology includes innovations across critical areas such as process safety, advanced catalysis, ammonia combustion, molecule separation, and material testing. The pilot’s success reflects the company’s ability to scale laboratory research to industrial applications and develop first-of-its-kind solutions for clients.

Armelle Levieux, member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee, notably supervising Innovation and Technology activities as well as Hydrogen Energy activities, stated: "The commissioning of our ammonia cracking pilot unit in Antwerp is a key milestone. This is a world’s first which paves the way for new low-carbon hydrogen supply chains. By proving the viability of industrial-scale ammonia cracking, Air Liquide demonstrates its capacity to innovate and provide concrete solutions for its customers, and contributing to the Energy Transition. I am immensely proud of the work and commitment of all our teams who made this achievement possible."