ITM Power Plc (ITMPF)

[Gerry321]

Wind to Ammonia Hydrogenics Proton or ITM Power?
basbas
I wouldnt be too concerned about whether nitrogen oxides are a major roadblock
Heres some more info
The University of Minnesota have a 1.65Mw Vestas wind turbine They also have a part funded project with the local Utility Xcel Energy to make ammonia from wind as a means of exploiting stranded energy. They see this as a way of helping off grid farms avoid spending around $300m pa on imported fertiliser
See
http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/wind/hydrogen/
And
http://webstar.postbulletin.com/agrinews/299602785982742.bsp

The interesting comment is that it is envisaged that across Minnesota there is around 2Mw of stranded wind energy which could be exploited to make $300m of ammonia
(nb This would require at least 2Mw of electrolyzers or double the annual capacity of ITM`s plant in Sheffield )
There are some interesting linkages which suggest ITM may have some kind of involvement in this project
In Hydrogen Engine Center ITM have a partner who are very well connected with the renewable industry in Iowa and Minnesota
HEC are currently involved with Xcel Energy in a 110kw (100kw +10Kw) wind to hydrogen project at Boulder Colorado where they supplied the hydrogen powered gensets They must also be in the running to supply hydrogen gensets to the ammonia from wind project in Minnesota
Teledyne supplied a 100kw wet electrolyzer and Proton Energy supplied a 10kw pem electrolyzer to the Boulder project in 2006
PE have since been in financial difficulties and were recently sold to F9 Investments
The wind to ammonia requirement will include a 400Kw electrolyzer
The only serious pem electrolyzer candidates in the US are Hydrogenics and Proton Energy
Its interesting that ITM indicated in one of their patents that by enabling hydrogen be produced at 75 bar they have greatly simplified the small scale manufacture of ammonia from green hydrogen
The ITM chemists should be well suited to liaising with the University on both the electrolyzer and any ammonia plant which is fed hydrogen from the electrolyzer
So perhaps they will be involved in this project