€20.3 Million for HyNITROGEN Consortium: Research into Sustainable Nitrogen Chemistry 

The research falls within the GroenvermogenNL theme Hydrogen and Green Electrons for Nitrogen-Based Chemistry. This theme focuses on making the production of ammonia and other nitrogen-containing chemicals more sustainable. These chemicals are essential for products such as fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, polymers, and sustainable plastics. 

The production of ammonia and ammonia derivatives currently involves high energy consumption and significant CO₂ emissions. Many existing processes depend on fossil-based feedstocks such as natural gas. Fertilizer production from natural gas also represents a significant share of Dutch natural gas demand. 

HyNITROGEN is developing new production routes aimed at reducing this dependence on fossil resources. The consortium is developing energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies that convert renewable electricity into chemical energy. This will create more sustainable pathways for the production of green ammonia and other nitrogen-containing compounds. 

The project focuses on: 

• flexible production routes for green ammonia; 
• energy storage and transport using ammonia as an energy carrier; 
• reducing emissions within the existing Haber-Bosch chain; 
• recovering nitrogen from diluted wastewater streams; 
• developing sustainable synthesis routes for nitrogen-containing molecules. 

In addition, HyNITROGEN is working on technological innovations such as co-electrolysis for integrated ammonia production, milder Haber-Bosch processes, and new catalysts for ammonia applications and nitrogen chemistry. 

Broad Collaboration

HyNITROGEN — short for Green Nitrogen Valorization Technologies for Sustainable Energy, Fertilizers, and Chemicals— is led by Prof. Dr. Jimmy Faria Albanese of the University of Twente. The consortium consists of a broad collaboration between universities, universities of applied sciences, research institutes, and companies. 

Participating knowledge institutions include the University of Twente, TNO, DIFFER, Wageningen University & Research, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Leiden University, Utrecht University, University of Amsterdam, Radboud University, and University of Groningen. 

Industry participants include Nouryon, Nobian, Johnson Matthey, Topsoe, Port of Rotterdam, and several innovative SMEs. 

From Lab Scale to Pilot Projects

The innovations within HyNITROGEN will be developed from laboratory scale to early-stage pilot projects (TRL 2–6), with applications in fuels, fertilizers, and sustainable chemicals. In this way, the project contributes to the development of a future-proof chemical industry and to strengthening the Netherlands’ green earning capacity. 

In this film, you’ll see how we collaborate in workshops with a broad consortium of partners to develop a project plan for the research project HyNITROGEN – Hydrogen and green electrons for nitrogen-based chemistry.