Thyssenkrupp Uhde and Uniper have formed a strategic partnership to advance a crucial technology for global hydrogen trade: large-scale ammonia cracking. This process is about breaking down ammonia catalytically at high temperatures into hydrogen and nitrogen, followed by purification to produce pure hydrogen.
As an initial phase, the companies will construct a demonstration plant at Uniper’s Gelsenkirchen-Scholven site in Germany, with a capacity of 28 tons of ammonia per day. According to ThyssenKrupp, this plant will be one of its kind, as it will serve as the basis for the planned hydrogen import terminal in Wilhelmshaven, northwestern Germany, where the technology is to be applied on a large industrial scale in a second step.
With this partnership, the company aims to convert imported ammonia into hydrogen at an industrial scale, increasing its availability for a wide range of industries, including steel, energy, and chemicals.
Holger Kreetz, COO of Uniper: “Uniper is actively committed to establishing hydrogen as an important component of the future energy mix that combines security and sustainability. Our aim is to strengthen the resilience of the economy. In order to meet Germany’s future hydrogen needs, we are dependent on imports from abroad. ”
“The partnership between Uniper and thyssenkrupp Uhde is therefore an important milestone for the hydrogen ramp-up and the decarbonization of industry,” he added.
Nadja Håkansson, CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, also commented that, “Uniper’s position as a leader in the energy markets and experienced asset operator, combined with our proven track record as a global leader in ammonia technology and large-scale plant delivery, forms a strong foundation for success. This joint capability ensures that the cracker plant is optimized not only for performance and efficiency but also for safety, long-term reliability, and total lifecycle cost. This integrated approach ensures a high level of confidence across the industry that the plant will consistently deliver top-tier operational performance throughout its entire lifecycle.”
The demonstration plant at the Scholven site in Gelsenkirchen has received financial backing from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to develop innovative components. This pilot facility will provide essential insights for the future construction of a full-scale commercial ammonia cracking plant.
In addition to public funding, both Thyssenkrupp Uhde and Uniper are investing substantial resources of their own into the project.
Mona Neubaur, Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection, and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia: “Hydrogen is one of the key technologies for the future viability of our industry in North Rhine-Westphalia. Like no other federal state, we need energy and raw materials for our economy and prosperity. With the help of ammonia cracking technology, we are opening up the possibility of obtaining green energy from numerous regions around the world. In doing so, we are strengthening the resilience of our business location and demonstrating how sustainability and security of supply can work together.”
Ammonia cracking technology is considered the key component for establishing a viable global hydrogen infrastructure. With its higher energy density by volume and easier transportability compared to pure hydrogen, ammonia serves as an ideal carrier medium.
Following successful lab-scale development and testing, the next critical phase involves constructing and operating the “demo cracker” a key milestone toward large-scale deployment. The cracker will be located at Uniper’s power plant site in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven, a hub for new sustainable energy initiatives. All necessary regulatory approvals for construction and operation have been secured, and work is already underway. Commissioning is scheduled for late 2026.