SHERPA

The chemical industry and the energy sector face a major challenge in their transition towards climate neutrality. In Flanders, future demand for low-carbon energy is expected to exceed the locally available supply of renewable electricity. In this context, the import of renewable energy via hydrogen or hydrogen carriers such as ammonia can play an important complementary role.

Ammonia (NH₃) has a high energy density and benefits from an established global production and transport infrastructure. However, the conversion of ammonia into hydrogen (H₂) currently relies on energy-intensive processes at high temperatures and on expensive catalysts. In addition, heating, pressure adjustments and gas separation bring additional energy losses and costs.

SHERPA (Sorption Enhanced Hydrogen Production via Ammonia Decomposition) aims to develop an integrated, electrified and energy-efficient technology to convert ammonia into hydrogen, targeting an overall efficiency of 90%.

SHERPA addresses three strongly interconnected technological challenges.

• First, the project develops new, cost-effective catalysts based on transition metals. These catalysts must enable high ammonia conversion at temperatures below 600 °C and at elevated pressure, providing an alternative to noble-metal-based systems.
• Second, an innovative, fully electrified shockwave reactor is being developed. This reactor enables extremely rapid heating, operates with high energy efficiency and can flexibly respond to variations in electricity supply. This makes the technology suitable for integration with renewable energy sources and for modular scale-up.
• Third, SHERPA develops an integrated adsorption system for hydrogen separation and purification, as well as ammonia recovery. This system uses an electrically regenerable Temperature and Pressure Swing Adsorption process, combining high hydrogen purity with limited energy losses.

Beyond the development of these individual components, catalyst, reactor and separation technology are integrated into a single process concept. Through process modelling, techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA), efficiency, emissions and economic feasibility are assessed with a view to industrial scale-up and commercialisation.