The search for alternatives to fossil fuels has become one of the major issues of our time. The need to reduce emissions, guarantee energy supply, and maintain industrial competitiveness has spurred thousands of researchers and companies into action. In this context, ammonia periodically reappears as a possible solution, and this is no coincidence.
Ammonia has been manufactured on a large scale for over a century. It is a well-known product in industry, can be transported and stored at room temperature, has a high energy density, and, when used correctly, does not emit CO₂ in its final use. All of this makes it an attractive candidate as an energy carrier.
However, it is not without its drawbacks. The direct combustion of ammonia generates nitrogen oxides (NOx), pollutants harmful to health and the environment. Therefore, the most promising approaches do not involve burning it directly, but rather using it as a hydrogen carrier.
Ammonia is composed of nitrogen and hydrogen. If these two elements are separated, the resulting hydrogen can be used as a clean fuel. This hydrogen can be burned in engines designed for it or used in fuel cells, generating electricity without polluting emissions.
This is where a startup that is generating considerable interest comes in: Amogy. It is a startup founded in 2020 by researchers affiliated with MIT. Their proposal is clear: they claim to have developed a catalytic system capable of splitting ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen with an efficiency 70% higher than current technologies.
This figure is key. Efficiency is what separates a good idea from a viable solution on an industrial scale. If they truly achieve this technological leap, ammonia could become a competitive fuel against fossil fuels.
The company has already received more than $300 million in funding, a considerable sum for such a young company. Furthermore, it has a contract with Samsung Heavy Industries, indicating clear interest from the naval sector, one of the most difficult to decarbonize.
Amogy not only offers its catalysis system, but also complete solutions that integrate fuel cells, facilitating their adoption by industry.
This is a market with enormous need. The potential applications are numerous: power generation, navigation of large vessels, heavy industry, long-distance transport… Sectors where direct electrification is complex and where dense, stable, and non-polluting fuels are needed.
If Amogy's technology proves truly economical and scalable, it has the potential for very rapid growth. The market is there, waiting for solutions that work.
I'm not an expert in chemistry or catalysis, but the proposal makes technical and strategic sense. They are at the heart of an ecosystem desperately seeking sustainable alternatives. If they deliver on their promises, they will provide a great service to society… and build a company with a very promising future.
I wish them all the best
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