Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world and a raw material for fertiliser production. However, ammonia is also increasingly regarded as a game changer in the energy transition, as it is a carbon-free hydrogen carrier that enables the sustainable and economical use of renewable energy. The development of technologies for using ammonia as an energy carrier is therefore an area of innovation with great economic and ecological relevance.
The CAMPFIRE alliance, based in north-eastern Germany, successfully completed its interim review by a jury of experts from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in March 2022. CAMPFIRE is funded by the BMBF as part of the "WIR! – Change through Innovation in the Region" programme. The alliance, which now comprises more than 70 companies and research partners, most of which are based in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Uckermark region, is thus entering its second funding phase. The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald coordinates the alliance. Strategic and technological management is in the hands of the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology.
The aim of CAMPFIRE is to implement technologies for the production and import of green ammonia and its use as a fuel for shipping and as an energy storage medium. This could enable small and medium-sized enterprises in the North-East region to become market leaders. The BMBF is providing a budget of more than six million euros for the second funding phase of CAMPFIRE as part of its WIR! programme. The alliance has already received nine million euros for the first funding phase.
Last year, CAMPFIRE was granted additional federal funding of around 31 million euros for technology implementation in the field of ammonia as part of the TransHyDE flagship project in the "Green Hydrogen" ideas competition. The projects are mainly located in the North-East region. The alliance received further funding under FETProActiv and Horizon2020, as well as the Industrial Community Research programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection.
Innovations from the north-east for the global ammonia economy
CAMPFIRE's comprehensive approach has already resulted in strong partnerships between small and medium-sized enterprises from the North-East region and financially strong large companies and scientific institutions over the past three years. At the same time, the alliance has raised the profile of the region both nationally and internationally in the field of ammonia and hydrogen. With the rapid market ramp-up of ammonia currently underway, technological leadership is expected within a short period of time, and sustainable business models for ammonia technologies are to be available from 2025.
Over the next three years, the focus will be on the implementation of the technologies by the regional companies involved in the alliance. The production and global marketing of the new technologies and products will serve to establish a global hydrogen economy. Small and medium-sized companies from the alliance region will be brought together for this purpose in the CAMPFIRE Open Innovation Lab (COIL). The aim is to realise and subsequently market the developed ammonia technologies in the areas of "power-to-ammonia" and "ammonia-to-power". Small and medium-sized companies, start-ups and founders from the plant engineering, energy technology, energy trading, special machine construction, shipbuilding and automation technology sectors are eligible to participate. They benefit from the network of scientific partners created by CAMPFIRE, as well as their research activities and practical experience.
In view of the urgent need for action on climate protection and the threat of supply shortages for natural gas, the alliance has immense potential for promoting Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a technology location and for creating a new ammonia- dustry. As pioneers in the development of ammonia technologies, companies in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania could make a significant contribution to maintaining energy security in Germany and, together with European partners, lead the way in the triumph of ammonia for the energy transition.
