Ammobia, a startup focused on ammonia production, announced it has refined the century-old Haber-Bosch process to potentially reduce production costs by up to 40%. The company secured $7.5 million in seed funding to scale its technology, according to information exclusively shared with TechCrunch.
The funding round included investments from Air Liquide's venture arm ALIAD, Chevron Technology Ventures, Chiyoda Corporation, MOL Switch, and Shell Ventures. Ammobia's modified Haber-Bosch process aims to make ammonia production more efficient and economical.
The Haber-Bosch process, developed in the early 20th century, is the primary method for synthesizing ammonia, a critical component of fertilizers. Without it, agricultural yields would drastically decrease, potentially leading to widespread food shortages. However, the traditional process is energy-intensive and costly. Ammobia claims its advancements address these issues.
Beyond fertilizer, ammonia is gaining traction as a potential alternative to hydrogen for decarbonizing various industries. Countries like Japan and South Korea are exploring ammonia's use in industrial applications and transportation. While hydrogen is also considered a key player in decarbonization, ammonia offers advantages in energy density and transportation. "The big advantage of ammonia is that it's much easier and more cost-effective to transport and store," the company stated.
Ammobia's success could pave the way for broader adoption of ammonia as a clean energy carrier and industrial feedstock. The company's focus on improving the Haber-Bosch process reflects a growing interest in optimizing existing technologies for a more sustainable future. The seed funding will enable Ammobia to further develop and demonstrate its technology on a larger scale, potentially revolutionizing ammonia production and its applications.
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