FASTER
Energy storage, ammonia, structured catalysts
Characteristics
The growing share of variable renewable energy (VRE) requires reliable backup solutions due to intermittency. Long-term storage via chemical vectors such as green ammonia is increasingly attractive. FASTER will demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of a non-noble metal catalyst based on nitrides/hydrides/amides, active below 250°C and 50 bar, combined with a novel reactor using structured catalysts and temperature-swing absorption for integrated synthesis and separation. Highly thermally conductive reactor and absorber scaffolds will enhance heat transfer and enable rapid operation under fluctuating loads (0–100%). The consortium (5 companies, 3 universities) will develop advanced catalysts, improved reactor concepts, a demo plant, and robust techno-economic models to support large-scale EU deployment of affordable ammonia-based hydrogen storage.
Result to be enhanced
FASTER aims to achieve ambitious technological and socio-economic goals. Technically, it will explore and rationalize NH₃ catalytic activity through atomistic simulations and microkinetic analyses; develop non-noble transition metal catalysts on electron-donating supports able to activate nitrogen under mild conditions; tailor structured reactor and absorber internals to enhance heat and mass transfer; and implement an Absorption Enhanced Haber-Bosch (AEHB) process operating flexibly at 0–100% load. Socio-economically, FASTER will foster a sustainable green ammonia economy by connecting leading institutions and companies, promoting carbon neutrality and affordable energy access, creating a multi-stakeholder platform, supporting EU acceptance through dissemination and policy engagement, and identifying training and capacity-building needs.
Why is it important?
FASTER has the potential to unlock Europe’s green energy resources by developing an innovative catalyst and reactor system for NH3 synthesis in an affordable and reliable manner, boosting sustainable economic growth in the EU.
Project and Acronym: FASTER
Call for application: Horizon Europe
Innovation Cluster to contact: Clever
Technologies used: The FASTER consortium will develop a highly active low-temperature, low-pressure catalyst for ammonia synthesis, advanced structured reactor and absorber concepts for improved heat and mass transfer, and software tools integrating static, dynamic and microkinetic simulations to accelerate catalyst discovery. It will build a flexible AEHB-based reactor prototype, a demo plant, robust techno-economic models for EU deployment, and perform LCA, LCC and S-LCA analyses.
Lead Company: UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE
Collaborating companies: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY, PROTON VENTURES, DEMCON SUSTER BV, UMICORE AG & CO KG, LIFE CYCLE ENGINEERING SPA, POLITECNICO DI MILANO, CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS CERTH
