Amogy and KBR partnership accelerates ammonia-to-hydrogen innovation for offshore and industrial sectors

Amogy, a company focused on ammonia-to-power tech, has recently teamed up with KBR, a well-known technology firm, through a formal agreement called a memorandum of understanding (or MOU). The goal here is to speed up the development of ammonia-to-hydrogen solutions in the energy sector. This announcement, made around mid-September 2024, mainly revolves around improving ammonia cracking catalysts—especially Amogy’s unique Ruthenium-based catalysts—so they can be integrated into KBR’s hydrogen production systems.

Now, here’s why ammonia is getting a lot of attention these days: it’s considered a pretty handy carrier for hydrogen because of its high energy density and the fact that it’s easier to transport than pure hydrogen. You see, hydrogen on its own is tricky—it has low volumetric density and storing it safely can be quite the challenge. But ammonia can be shipped globally through existing infrastructure, making it a practical way to move hydrogen around. When you crack ammonia back into hydrogen, it becomes a clean fuel source that could power heavy industries, transport, and energy plants—without adding carbon emissions.

Under this agreement, both companies will look into how well Amogy’s ruthenium catalysts perform within KBR’s hydrogen production setups. The plan? To push these catalysts toward commercial use, especially for offshore and industrial scenarios. Essentially, this partnership aims to refine the catalyst technology and also promote wider adoption of ammonia as a big-scale hydrogen carrier.

Seonghoon Woo, who’s the CEO of Amogy, mentioned that KBR’s leadership in hydrogen technology makes them a perfect partner. He added that mixing Amogy’s expertise in catalysts with KBR’s platforms could open up new pathways for clean and scalable energy. It’s clear they’re both committed to pushing forward with innovative solutions to grow the hydrogen economy.

This news fits into a bigger trend where investments and partnerships are increasing, with ammonia emerging as a key vector for low-carbon hydrogen. For example, Amogy recently raised a hefty $56 million in venture capital, pushing their total funding above $270 million. That capital boost came shortly after they successfully demonstrated the world’s first carbon-free ammonia-powered ship—an accomplishment in September 2024. It signals that ammonia-to-power solutions are looking pretty promising for maritime use—a sector that’s traditionally tough to decarbonize.

Even more, Amogy is working on scaling up its ammonia cracking tech through other collaborations. They’ve partnered with JGC Holdings to develop large-scale ammonia cracking systems, which are crucial for producing low-carbon hydrogen at a bigger level. This approach aligns with national efforts, like Japan’s plan to increase hydrogen use and deploy large volumes of ammonia-derived hydrogen by 2030. Plus, there’s their partnership with Yanmar Holdings, where they’re exploring how to integrate ammonia cracking with hydrogen internal combustion engines—aiming to decarbonize marine power with catalysts designed to work efficiently at lower temperatures and last longer. These collaborations demonstrate the ongoing push to expand ammonia’s role across maritime, industrial, and energy sectors.

KBR, on the other hand, brings a lot of experience across green and blue hydrogen production tech, making them an ideal partner here. Their existing platforms could really help optimize ammonia cracking catalysts and boost hydrogen generation efficiency. The focus on offshore and industrial applications is particularly relevant for regions like the UAE, where heavy industries and maritime transport are vital parts of the economy. Plus, these regions are seeing hydrogen innovation taking root as part of their climate tech transition.

The partnership also involves consistent sharing of knowledge and exploring new markets together—highlighting a long-term commitment to scaling ammonia-to-hydrogen technologies. This trend reflects a broader industry movement to use ammonia not just as a hydrogen carrier but also as a clean energy vector—using existing energy logistics to overcome some of hydrogen’s main transport and storage hurdles.

Looking at the Middle East and especially the UAE, this kind of alliance fits well with ongoing efforts to develop a hydrogen economy powered by renewable energy sources. Incorporating ammonia cracking tech into hydrogen production could be key to decarbonizing energy-heavy sectors and building sustainable energy infrastructure.

All in all, the Amogy-KBR MOU marks an important step in moving away from fossil fuels toward hydrogen-powered clean energy. It underscores the importance of innovation in catalysts, the strategic role of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, and cross-company partnerships to unlock new commercial opportunities. As ammonia increasingly features in global hydrogen strategies, collaborations like this will likely speed up the energy transition—particularly in regions like the UAE, where heavy industry and maritime activity are closely aligned with ammonia-to-hydrogen solutions.

Source: Noah Wire Services