Ammonia without CO₂ emissions: EASY brings sustainable production one step closer
VITO’s commitment to sustainable innovation takes another major step forward with the launch of the EASY project, the first EIC Transition project in which VITO participates. EASY builds directly on the achievements of the Horizon Europe project VERGE, which successfully laid the foundation for a new, electrified route to synthesise ammonia using renewable energy.
An alternative for the Haber-Bosch process
Ammonia is essential for fertiliser production and is emerging as a promising e-fuel. However, the conventional Haber-Bosch process, used to produce ammonia, remains one of the world’s largest sources of industrial CO₂ emissions due to the use of fossil fuels and harsh process conditions. The EASY project (Electrochemical Ammonia Synthesis) aims to change that by advancing the electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction — producing ammonia directly from air and water, powered by renewable electricity, under mild conditions using Atmonia’s catalysts. This decentralised and carbon-free approach enables ammonia generation even in remote areas and aligns perfectly with Europe’s drive for climate-neutral technologies.
“The grant of this project marks a major milestone in a research journey we started in 2020 to understand and advance nitrogen electrolysis technology for green ammonia synthesis,” says Yuvraj Birdja, Electrochemistry expert at VITO. “Building on our expertise in electrocatalysis and electrochemical engineering, the EIC Transition project EASY aims to demonstrate this technology beyond lab scale. This achievement represents a significant step forward in translating innovation into impact.”
Getting ready for scale-up
Through EASY, VITO and its partners will demonstrate this breakthrough process beyond the laboratory, aiming to deliver:
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An operating prototype ready for scale-up and on-farm demonstration
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A market-confirmed business plan for commercialisation
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A clear regulatory and permit pathway for its use in fertiliser and e-fuel applications
The project unites academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial partners (Atmonia, VITO, TEGA, EcoVibes, LbhÍ) who share a vision to make decentralized and sustainable ammonia production a reality.
EASY follows the success of VERGE (Versatile and direct e-fuel and fertiliser generation from renewable electricity), a Horizon Europe project that pioneered the concept of generating ammonia directly from air and water using renewable energy. VERGE established the technical foundation that now allows EASY to translate scientific insight into real-world application — bridging the gap between research and impact.
