In this article, we will provide an overview of ammonia, its production footprint, and the new opportunities and challenges facing a modern and decarbonized NH3 industry.
Ammonia (NH3) has played a crucial role over the last century in the production of urea, nitrogen-based fertilizers, and various other nitrogen-based compounds. Traditionally tied to the energy industry due to its production’s reliance on fossil fuels, ammonia is now at the forefront of discussions about decarbonization.
Particularly, in light of the European Union's decarbonization goals1 and the push for a Renewable Hydrogen (REH2) industry. The two main topics on this subject are decarbonizing traditional ammonia applications and exploring its potential direct use as a Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO).
Despite its production largely relying on grey hydrogen, ammonia was not a common topic in decarbonization discussions until recently. The production of this essential product for the global food supply has been acquainted with 2% of global energy consumption and 1.3% of the total CO2 emissions [Ammonia 2021 IEA report]. Additionally, in a global economy based primarily on renewable energy, ammonia has been reported as a key component for offshore energy transportation and a future sustainable fuel.
