Heidelberg Materials are involved in a new hydrogen project. Image: Heidelberg Materials/Aleksej Keksel
Ammonia may be more commonly known for its use in fertilisers but a new research project involving Heidelberg Materials suggests it could be the key to helping decarbonise the cement industry.
Cranfield University researchers are working with Stopford and Heidelberg Materials on a 12-month research project to turn ammonia into hydrogen fuel for cement kilns.
“We are committed to building a sustainable future, driving business and product innovation,” Heidelberg Materials UK sustainability director Marian Garfield said.
“If the project proves economically viable, Heidelberg plans to adopt the scheme to supply hydrogen to our UK cement kilns.”
The United Kingdom’s net zero strategy for decarbonisation requires all of the region’s economy to meet net zero by 2050. The UK’s cement and concrete industry contributes to CO2 emissions, but data suggest switching to low-carbon fuels could reduce emissions by 16 per cent.
Previous studies have shown that storing, transporting and scaling hydrogen can be technically challenging in some instances and financially prohibitive for businesses.
This project will assess the use of ammonia as a low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen carrier, evaluating the most economical method of on-site ammonia cracking to generate hydrogen for use in cement industry kilns.
The group will design a machine to “crack” the ammonia and design a new autothermal process to release hydrogen fuel for use in kilns to manufacture cement.
“Ammonia is rapidly being considered the most promising hydrogen vector for global energy markets” Stopford consultancy director Deb Pal said.
“I am looking forward to working with our project partners to spearhead innovation in the cement industry and help accelerate the adoption of hydrogen by other UK industries.”
The project focuses on the feasibility of the technology and the supply chain but can make hydrogen use available and economically viable on sites across the UK.
Dr Mingming Zhu, senior lecturer in chemical engineering in the Centre for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy at Cranfield, leads the academic aspect of the project.
The collaboration is funded by Innovate UK through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Economy Net Zero Programme.
“This project will bring us another step closer to enabling manufacturing operations to use hydrogen fuel, helping to decarbonise industry,” Dr Zhu said.
“Although there are clear challenges with making hydrogen feasible for industrial use, innovative collaborations such as this will certainly move us closer to widespread adoption.”
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