Metrology to Support Ammonia Use in Emerging Applications

About the project

The European Union, through its European Green Deal, aims to become carbon-neutral by 2050, replacing the use of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. Hydrogen (H₂) is a key molecule for decarbonising industry and heavy-duty transportation. However, the ability to efficiently transport hydrogen over long distances is a persistent challenge in developing a robust global hydrogen economy.

In this context, the EU-funded project MetNH₃Energy (Metrology to support ammonia use in emerging applications) has begun its activities. The consortium focuses on developing a metrological infrastructure and relevant services to facilitate the deployment of ammonia.

This involves establishing reliable measurement techniques and standards throughout the entire ammonia value chain, addressing gaps in current infrastructure, and facilitating the broader adoption of ammonia in both existing and emerging applications.

The MetNH3Energy project will provide new reference materials for priority pollutants and develop traceable monitoring methods to quantify ammonia leaks accurately. It will develop traceable, real-time emission monitoring techniques to understand the effect of impurities on pollutant formation. It will also assess the performance of sensors in harsh ammonia environments and investigate the use of alternative fluids and optical methods for calibrating ammonia gas and liquid flow meters.

This work is anticipated to support the entire hydrogen chain by enhancing ammonia trade, improving emission monitoring and leak detection, benefiting both businesses and supporting the EU’s sustainability goal.

Project Objectives

The overall objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive metrological framework that supports the deployment of ammonia as an energy carrier across several sectors, including energy, transportation, and industry. MetNH₃Energy will address this main objective from 5 perspectives:

First, the project will establish new primary reference materials and advanced gas analysis methods for ammonia as an energy carrier, with a specific focus on impurities arising from various production process value chains. (WP1)

Second, MetNH₃Energy will establish calibration and validation procedures for flow meters to accurately measure both gaseous and liquid ammonia, specifically for custody transfer applications in real-world field conditions. (WP2)

Third, a metrology infrastructure will be established, utilising SI traceable, controlled releases to accurately mimic real-world leak scenarios and enable the development of robust, quantitative methods for ammonia leak detection. (WP3)

Fourth, the consortium will develop traceable and validated real-time online measurements for both real-time online stack emissions (e.g., NH₃, N₂O, NO, NO₂) and flow monitoring, including estimations of uncertainty. This effort will also evaluate the effects of ammonia impurities on pollutant formation during the thermochemical conversion of ammonia. (WP4)

Last, the project will conduct material compatibility studies to determine the effects of various materials on reference material preparation and ensure safety throughout the ammonia value chain. All resulting data will be registered and disseminated to standardisation bodies, metrology organisations, academia, and end-users, thus facilitating the early adoption of novel calibration services. (WP5)