thyssenkrupp Uhde and Uniper have entered into a strategic partnership to accelerate the industrialization of a critical hydrogen technology: large-scale ammonia cracking. This breakthrough is set to enable hydrogen imports on a global scale, supporting energy security and decarbonization efforts across industries.
Demonstration Plant to Launch in Germany
As the first step, the partners are building a demonstration plant with a capacity of 28 tons of ammonia per day at Uniper’s Gelsenkirchen-Scholven site in Germany. This plant, one of the first of its kind worldwide, will catalytically break down ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen at high temperatures, followed by purification to produce clean hydrogen.
This demo project is a key foundation for a future hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven. There, the technology will scale up to industrial levels. The goal transform imported ammonia into hydrogen efficiently and at scale.
Enabling Clean Hydrogen for Energy, Steel, and Chemicals
The partnership aims to make green or low-carbon hydrogen widely available to energy-intensive sectors such as energy, steel, and chemicals. By using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, the initiative supports cost-effective and high-volume hydrogen transport from global production hubs.
This technology is essential to ramping up the hydrogen economy. Ammonia’s high energy density and existing global logistics infrastructure make it an ideal solution for transporting hydrogen across borders.
Industry Leaders Join Forces for Scalable, Reliable Hydrogen Tech
Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper, highlighted, “Uniper is actively committed to establishing hydrogen as a key element of the future energy mix. Our partnership with thyssenkrupp Uhde marks a significant milestone in enabling hydrogen imports and accelerating industrial decarbonization.”
Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, added, “This collaboration leverages Uniper’s energy market leadership and our deep expertise in ammonia technology. It ensures top-tier performance, safety, and long-term operational excellence.”
Government Support Bolsters Innovation and Scale-Up
The project has received funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to develop innovative components of the demonstration plant. Both Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde are also investing their own capital into the project.
Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy, emphasized, “Hydrogen is a cornerstone for the future of North Rhine-Westphalia’s industry. Ammonia cracking enables us to tap into global sources of green energy, supporting both economic resilience and sustainability.”
From Lab to Industry: Cracking the Code of Hydrogen Transport
Following successful laboratory testing, the construction of the demo cracker marks a crucial step toward commercialization. The facility will gather real-time operational data to refine and scale the technology for industrial deployment.
Uniper is building the cracker at its existing Gelsenkirchen-Scholven power plant site, repurposing it for sustainable energy projects. They have secured all necessary approvals, started construction, and plan to commission it in late 2026.
Unlocking a Global Hydrogen Infrastructure
Experts widely regard ammonia cracking as the missing link in building a global hydrogen supply chain. Industries already transport ammonia globally in large volumes. Converting green hydrogen into ammonia at the source and cracking it back into hydrogen at the destination enables a practical, scalable system for clean energy delivery. According to the press release, Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde are paving the way for a secure, efficient, and sustainable hydrogen economy. This is being achieved through their partnership.
