Expanding global ammonia infrastructure is creating new opportunities for ammonia to serve not only as a fertilizer feedstock but also as a low-carbon energy carrier and means of transporting hydrogen, according to IDTechEx.
Ammonia is the world’s second-most-produced chemical, with around 80% used for fertilizer production. Conventional ammonia relies on hydrogen derived from natural gas, exposing production to fossil-fuel price volatility and geopolitical risks.
Green ammonia, produced using hydrogen from water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, offers a route to reduce these emissions.
Ammonia already benefits from an established global transport network, with about 20 million tonnes transported by sea annually through around 200 ports, alongside thousands of kilometres of pipelines.
New ammonia bunkering projects in countries including South Korea, India and Singapore are also supporting its potential use as a marine fuel.
China is emerging as a major centre for green ammonia development. A planned approximately 300-km pipeline between Chifeng and Jinzhou Port is expected to transport green ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, creating a large-scale renewable energy corridor.
