The Use of Ammonia as a Clean Fuel is a potential new resource for power generation and maritime applications. Green ammonia is a byproduct of renewable electricity. This fuel has the potential to replace fossil fuels in power generation and maritime applications.
Green ammonia as a clean fuel
While there are few green ammonia plants in operation yet, producers are paving the way for their construction. For these plants to be economically feasible, they will need abundant renewable energy such as hydropower. This will help mitigate intermittency issues and reduce operating costs. Additionally, the plants should be located close to end-user markets. Australia is being singled out as a prime location for green ammonia plants due to its abundance of renewable energy and proximity to east Asia.
In the near future, green ammonia is expected to become the preferred fuel for shipping and decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors. With its high CO2 performance across the lifecycle, ammonia is a viable option for a clean energy transition. Commercial demonstrations are planned for 2024-25. However, the transition to commercial ammonia fuel will depend on several factors, including the cost and availability of the product, the current transportation and storage infrastructure, and social acceptance.
Green ammonia can be produced by electrolysis and the Haber-Bosch process. While these methods are emissions-free and are considered the medium-term solution, there are a number of other approaches in development. One such technology is the reverse fuel cell (RFC), which converts renewable energy into ammonia and water. However, this technology is too slow to produce the large volumes of ammonia required for the agricultural sector or the emerging green liquid fuel market.
A significant amount of capital investment is needed to build a new plant. Most new projects take several years to plan, finance and execute. Therefore, it is essential to make early decisions to ensure that there is enough green ammonia supply to meet the demand. The industry is currently in the research phase, but it needs to move to the next stage of development. There is huge potential for this fuel.
Green ammonia is made from renewable electricity
The production of green ammonia from renewable electricity is already underway in some parts of the world. Norwegian fertilizer maker Yara plans to install electrolyzers to produce 3,500 t of green ammonia each year in the Pilbara region, while Queensland Nitrates and Dyno Nobel are studying the production of 9,000 and 20,000 t of green ammonia per year, respectively. There are also pilot projects in New Zealand and Chile. But the most ambitious project to date has been announced in Saudi Arabia. This project involves a partnership between BP and a solar developer called Lightsource bp, as well as a professional services firm called GHD Advisory.
The production of green ammonia from renewable electricity is an alternative to the conventional ammonia production process. The process is flexible and can be used not only to make fertilizers, but also to produce a next-generation zero-carbon fuel. This method is a complementary technology to direct electrification and the development of renewable energy storage.
The production of green ammonia is based on a process that uses renewable electricity and air. The process is not only eco-friendly but also widely available. The company is now moving from the research phase to the development phase. A pilot plant based on the company’s solid oxide electrolysis technology is expected to have a capacity of 180 t/yr.
In order to produce green ammonia, new technologies are needed to improve efficiency. One such technology is a solid oxide electrolysis process, which uses renewable electricity and requires only ten percent of the energy used by a conventional gas-powered ammonia plant. This means that the green ammonia production process is much more cost-efficient and can save on capital and operating costs.
Although there are still many challenges in developing a commercially viable commercial ammonia plant, some pilots are already underway. In addition to piloting the use of ammonia, a ship operator, the MISC, is collaborating with Samsung Heavy Industries and MAN Energy Solutions to retrofit the Viking Energy vessel. These partners plan to launch an ammonia-powered ship by 2025.
Ammonia-fuelled gas turbines
Ammonia-fuelled gas turbines have several challenges to overcome. Compared with conventional fuels, ammonia has significantly higher energy density and lower weight. Ammonia also has the advantage of reducing CO and NOx emissions. However, its combustion requires changes to the IC engine. This requires increased fuel storage capacity and material selection. In addition, it requires high compression ratios. Nonetheless, dual fuel applications can keep the compression ratio moderate and balance CO and NOx emissions.
Although ammonia does not burn with the same intensity as gasoline, it can be used in spark ignition engines. However, it must be used with caution as it burns about one fifth slower than gasoline. It also needs special crank angles and piston positions to achieve efficient combustion. Furthermore, ammonia is not supposed to be injected into the cylinder at a higher pressure than the compression pressure. Usually, the ammonia is premixed with air in the intake manifold. An oxidation catalyst is used in the cylinder to reduce ammonia’s NOx emissions.
Despite the challenges associated with ammonia, many companies are investing in infrastructure to make ammonia-fuelled gas turbines a reality. In Japan, for example, the largest power company, JERA, has received a grant from the state-owned New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization to support its research and development. By the year 2025, JERA hopes to use ammonia as fuel in 20 percent of its major coal-fired units.
Ammonia gas turbines also have several benefits. Among them, ammonia is an indirect hydrogen carrier, enabling the production of clean hydrogen through the combustion of fossil fuels. In addition, ammonia is a synthetic fuel, which is derived from renewable sources. However, the first phase of ammonia-fuelled gas turbines is still in its conceptual stage, and further development is required to meet the requirements of commercial use.
Ammonia is produced through the Haber-Bosch reaction, a chemical reaction that involves high temperatures and pressure. It takes up to 20 to 40 megapascals of pressure to produce ammonia. It can be stored in huge quantities in large tanks in liquid form and can be stored at -33 degrees Celsius. However, ammonia production and use generate about half a billion tons of CO2 annually.
Transporting green ammonia
Transporting green ammonia as a fuel is a major step forward in the fight against global warming. Although the cost of green ammonia production is higher than conventional ammonia, the price of renewable energy is also decreasing. In Europe, the cost of carbon will be a key factor in making green ammonia cheaper to produce.
However, there is still a long way to go before ships begin experimenting with green ammonia. The first commercial trials are expected to begin within five years. Some shipping companies have already started the process. For instance, the Malaysia-based shipowner MISC has joined forces with Samsung Heavy Industries, Lloyd’s Register, and MAN Energy Solutions. Another shipowner, Equinor, has partnered with marine technology firm Eidesvik to retrofit its vessel Viking Energy to run on ammonia. Meanwhile, the Nordic Innovation foundation has funded the development of ammonia-powered ships. This initiative is set to launch a commercial ammonia-powered ship by 2025.
Currently, the green ammonia industry faces a critical question: how will the sector meet the growing demand for greener fuels? A recent report by BP predicts that renewables will supply up to forty to sixty percent of the world’s energy by 2050. Furthermore, the cost of renewables is expected to decrease by 30 to 70 percent.
Ammonia has the potential to become the key to a decarbonized energy system, a crucial factor in tackling global climate change. It can be used as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cells and turbines. In addition, shipping ammonia is a viable option to export renewable energy.
Currently, there are no green ammonia plants in operation, but this trend is quickly gaining steam as producers work to build them. These facilities will need ample renewable energy sources, preferably combined with hydropower to mitigate intermittency issues and reduce operating costs. They will also need to be close to end markets to be commercially viable. Australia is one likely location, due to its large amount of renewable energy potential and close proximity to eastern Asia.
The most cost-efficient way to reduce the emission of ammonia is to split the water molecules with renewable electricity. This process is called the Haber-Bosch process. This process is similar to that of producing carbon black, but the result is that it releases about two tons of CO2 into the atmosphere for each ton of usable ammonia.
