Energy Ammonia

 

Energy Ammonia

Ammonia is both a chemical energy store and a fuel, where energy is released by the breaking and making of chemical bonds. For ammonia (NH3), the net energy gain arises from breaking nitrogen-hydrogen bonds which, together with oxygen, produces nitrogen and water.

Ammonia can be burnt in an engine or used in a fuel cell to produce electricity. When used, ammonia's only by-products are water and nitrogen. The maritime industry is likely to be an early adopter, replacing the use of fuel oil in marine engines.

What is ammonia? 

Ammonia is a pungent gas that is widely used to make agricultural fertilizers. Green ammonia production is where the process of making ammonia is 100% renewable and carbon-free.

 

  • Blue hydrogen is where carbon emissions from the steam methane reforming (SMR) process are captured and stored (CCS).
  • Green hydrogen is produced using water electrolysis to generate hydrogen and oxygen, using sustainable electricity in the process. 
  • Energy storage – ammonia is easily stored in bulk as a liquid at modest pressures (10-15 bar) or refrigerated to -33°C. This makes it an ideal chemical store for renewable energy. There is an existing distribution network, in which ammonia is stored in large refrigerated tanks and transported around the world by pipes, road tankers and ships.
  • Zero-carbon fuel – ammonia can be burnt in an engine or used in a fuel cell to produce electricity. When used, ammonia’s only by-products are water and nitrogen. The maritime industry is likely to be an early adopter, replacing the use of fuel oil in marine engines.
  • Hydrogen carrier – there are applications where hydrogen gas is used (e.g. in PEM fuel cells), however hydrogen is difficult and expensive to store in bulk (needing cryogenic tanks or high-pressure cylinders). Ammonia is easier and cheaper to store, and transport and it can be readily “cracked” and purified to give hydrogen gas when required.

 

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