Nium

What Nium does

Nium (legally Kainium Ltd.) is a UK-based deep-technology startup founded in 2022 and headquartered in Cambridge, developing patent-pending nanotechnology that produces green ammonia. The company's core product is a modular reactor system composed of nano-catalyst-filled converters that synthesize ammonia at low pressure and low temperature using renewable energy inputs, replacing the century-old, energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. This architecture enables decentralized, on-site ammonia production scaled to site-specific demand, eliminating the emissions and costs associated with centralized ammonia supply chains and long-distance transport.

Nium's primary customer segments are industrial buyers in the fertilizer industry (ammonia as a precursor to roughly half of global food production), the hydrogen energy sector (ammonia as an optimal hydrogen carrier and zero-emission fuel), and energy and transport applications requiring clean fuel inputs. The company is pre-revenue and follows a partnership-driven go-to-market model, engaging directly with large industrial counterparties to deploy modular reactors at client sites. Revenue, when generated, is expected to flow through hardware sales of the reactor systems and the associated on-site green ammonia output, targeting decarbonization of a supply chain the company notes accounts for a significant share of global CO2 emissions.

Nium has raised a $3 million seed round in June 2023 led by AgFunder with participation from DCVC and Carbon13, supplemented by ~$147K from Carbon13's 2022 cohort and non-dilutive participation in multiple accelerator programs (AcceliCITY in 2024, RootCamp in late 2024, Third Derivative in 2025, and Moeve's Light Up program in 2025). The company was nominated for The Earthshot Prize 2025, providing external validation of its climate impact thesis. As of the available data, Nium has not announced commercial deployments, named customers, or revenue, indicating an early commercialization stage.

Name

Nium

Legal name

Kainium Ltd.

Website

https://wearenium.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nium (Kainium Ltd.) is a UK-based deep-tech startup developing patent-pending nano-catalyst modular reactors for low-pressure, low-temperature green ammonia synthesis powered by renewables. It targets fertilizer producers, hydrogen fuel companies, and industrial energy buyers seeking decentralized, decarbonized ammonia supply.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Ammonia Production Technology

NAICS

Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing (325311), Chemical Manufacturing (325)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Nitrogen Fertilizers (Ammonia, Urea, UAN, Ammonium Nitrate/Sulfate) (AFABABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Nitrogen Products (Urease/Nitrification Inhibitors, Enhanced-Efficiency N) (AFABACAG)

Keywords

• Green ammonia production
• Ammonia synthesis technology
• Nanocatalyst converters
• Modular reactor systems
• Clean fertilizer inputs

Headquarters

HQ city

Harwell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Green Ammonia Sales: Nium generates revenue through the sale of green ammonia produced by its modular reactor systems deployed at client sites, serving fertilizer, energy, and hydrogen fuel markets

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Nium designs, develops, and sells modular reactor systems that produce green ammonia using proprietary nano-catalyst filled converters operating at low pressure and low temperature, powered entirely by renewable energy. The technology replaces the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process, enabling decentralized, on-site ammonia production for industrial customers in fertilizer manufacturing, hydrogen energy, and clean fuel sectors.

Product overview

Nium offers a single unified product: a modular green ammonia synthesis system that uses nanotechnology-based catalysts to produce clean ammonia at low pressure and low temperature using renewable energy. The system scales to meet site-specific demand through modular converters, targeting the decarbonization of global ammonia supply chains for agricultural fertilizers and hydrogen energy applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nium Clean Ammonia Technology (modular nano-catalyst reactor system) A modular reactor system employing proprietary nano-catalyst filled converters to produce green ammonia through low-pressure, low-temperature synthesis powered by renewable energy. It is designed for on-site deployment at industrial customer facilities, enabling decentralized, zero-emission ammonia production for fertilizer manufacturers, energy companies, and hydrogen fuel producers seeking to decarbonize their ammonia supply chain.

Quantifiable outcome

• Replaces energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process that accounts for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• MoeveacceleratorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Nium was selected as one of nine deep science cleantech startups for Moeve's Light Up accelerator program, covering areas including ammonia generation. Nium will scale its projects with Moeve experts and present results at a Demo Day in 2026, with the potential for continued financial and structural support for implementation in Moeve's Energy Parks, chemical plants, and service stations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Plug Power: US green hydrogen and fuel cell company expanding into green ammonia production for fuel and fertilizer markets. Pursues similar end-markets (hydrogen carrier, fertilizer decarbonization) with a vertically integrated electrolyzer-to-ammonia approach.
• ITM Power: UK-based PEM electrolyzer company building green hydrogen capacity that feeds green ammonia projects. Geographic and ecosystem overlap with Nium's UK base and shared end-customers in the green ammonia value chain.
• Nel ASA: Norwegian electrolyzer manufacturer whose PEM and alkaline electrolyzers are key inputs for green hydrogen and downstream green ammonia production. Sits upstream in the same green ammonia value chain and competes for similar project financing.

Broad incumbents

• ThyssenKrupp Uhde: Major industrial engineering firm with extensive ammonia plant technology portfolio including conventional and green ammonia process designs. Established global incumbent in ammonia plant engineering and licensing competing for the same green ammonia buildout.
• CF Industries: Major North American nitrogen fertilizer and ammonia producer developing blue and green ammonia initiatives. Sets the incumbent benchmark Nium must beat on cost and reliability to win fertilizer customers.
• Yara International: World's largest ammonia and nitrogen fertilizer producer, actively pursuing green ammonia projects in Norway and globally. Incumbent that Nium's decentralized model must compete against for downstream fertilizer customers.
• Cummins: Diversified power and hydrogen technology company with electrolyzer and fuel cell capabilities supporting the green hydrogen/ammonia ecosystem. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping decarbonization customer base and broader resources.

Direct peers

• Starfire Energy: US-based developer of proprietary catalytic ammonia synthesis technology targeting distributed green ammonia production. Closest direct competitor with overlapping nano-/catalyst-based ammonia synthesis approach and similar modular/distributed deployment model.
• Amogy: US-based startup developing ammonia-to-power systems for transportation and heavy industry using ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel carrier. Targets similar end markets (ammonia as hydrogen carrier and fuel) with complementary downstream technology.
• Topsoe: Danish catalysis and process technology company developing ammonia synthesis solutions including low-carbon and electrified ammonia routes. Competes in the alternative ammonia synthesis technology space with deep engineering and catalyst IP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nium-green-ammonia-on-demand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nium