FASTER project will develop sustainable storage for green ammonia
30 January 2025
A project to develop an innovative and sustainable method for storing green energy to create a cleaner future and strengthen Europe's energy security has begun.
Researchers from the Net Zero Innovation Institute are part of FASTER (Flexible Ammonia Synthesis Technology for Energy StoRage), a collaborative venture between leading European universities and companies, which launched this month.
FASTER focuses on converting solar and wind energy into ammonia, which is easily stored and transported and has an established infrastructure due to its use in agriculture, and has huge potential to reduce carbon emissions and create efficient, cleaner energy production. This is crucial for addressing seasonal fluctuations in energy production and consumption.
Funding and collaboration are vital to achieving environmental and economic sustainability, uniting expertise and resources to drive innovation in harnessing ammonia as a clean energy vector for a greener, more resilient future.
Liquid ammonia offers unique advantages as an energy carrier. It has a much higher energy density than liquified hydrogen and is easier and more cost effective to transport. Moreover, ammonia is already widely produced and used today, particularly in the fertiliser industry, meaning there are well-established protocols to handle and store it safely. Thanks to this existing infrastructure, FASTER can accelerate the transition to green ammonia without adding significant safety or environmental concerns.
In addition to energy storage, the technology also contributes to making fertiliser production more sustainable, a sector that currently relies heavily on fossil fuels. This not only helps to reduce CO₂ emissions but also decreases Europe’s dependence on imported natural gas.
The project consists of eight partners from five countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the United Kingdom. It brings together experts in catalysis from Cardiff University with international experts in green energy technology.
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Senior Lecturer in Catalytic & Computational Chemistry
