iX Challenge: Electrochemical Ammonia Production

Background

MVM is looking to engage innovators and innovative companies that can provide an electro-chemical method for ammonia production.

Ammonia is shaping up to be a major energy and/or hydrogen carrier of the future, offering very efficient carbon-free hydrogen storage. However, ammonia production is still carried out by the Haber-Bosch process, which was developed more than a century ago; thus a greener alternative could offer considerable benefits.

Purely electro-chemical ammonia production, characterised with high faradaic efficiency, would offer efficient carbon-free hydrogen storage and could provide a competitive alternative to green hydrogen long-term.

MVM seek this innovation to serve as an efficient, carbon-free energy and/or hydrogen storage media, which can play an important part in meeting the future energy demands of Hungary and beyond.

Rewards & Benefits

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to pitch to MVM. Applicants selected by MVM can expect to work closely together with MVM to advance the TRL of the solution, and may have opportunities for pilot testing at MVM facilities.

It is expected that the selected applicants and MVM will pursue European innovation funding, such as Horizon Europe.

The package may also include:

• Support from KTN
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at KTN events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant.

Functional Requirements

Once a partner is agreed upon, MVM plan to participate together in a relevant funding scheme (possibly together with other Hungarian parties such as higher education institutions and public research institutions if needed) to further the development of the ammonia synthesis solution to point where a pilot demonstration is possible under commercially relevant environment (~TRL6).

Location will most likely be a relevant test facility owned by MVM or having access to.

Technical Requirements

Solutions submitted to this competition should:

• Produce NH3 with high Faradaic efficiency
• Be capable of producing quantities in the order of 10^2 to 10^3 grams per hour at reasonable cell dimensions.

Eligibility & Assessment Criteria

Innovations submitted to this competition should be at TRL 3 or above. This technology is being considered with long time horizons, therefore it is expected that there will be significant collaboration between selected applicants and MVM to progress the technology through higher TRLs.

Entrants to this competition must be established businesses, startups, SMEs or individual entrepreneurs, and be UK based or have the intention to set up a UK base.