Compare ammonia readiness levels

The graphs below provide information on ammonia fuels and their readiness levels. You can view the combined fuels and readiness levels or select them individually by clicking on the coloured labels and filters.

Exploring the advantages of ammonia as a marine fuel

  1. Zero carbon: Ammonia has the potential to be a truly zero carbon well-to-wake fuel if produced using renewable energy (e-ammonia).
  2. Relatively easy to handle: Ammonia requires less cooling than hydrogen to be stored in liquid form (at temperatures of around -33°C), and transport of ammonia is already well established. However, using ammonia as fuel introduces new challenges, such as safe bunkering.
  3. Acceptable energy density: The energy density of ammonia is broadly similar to methanol and higher than hydrogen, making onboard storage economically feasible, albeit not as compact as the heavy fuel oil (HFO) used today.

Risks and disadvantages

  1. Safety concerns: Ammonia is highly toxic, so it is imperative that vessel design and operations, as well as crew training, take into account these major safety considerations.
  2. Environmental concerns from spillages: An ammonia spill could have serious environmental consequences on aquatic habitats and ecosystems, so mitigation measures and spill management practices need to be in place.
  3. Other emissions: Although no carbon is emitted, the combustion of ammonia in engines can release nitrogen oxides (NOX) and nitrous oxide (N2O), so emission control technologies, such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, are required.
  4. Low flammability: Ammonia has a low flammability range. Therefore, it is likely that a pilot fuel or blend may be required to achieve combustion. 

Differences between ammonia fuels

Blue ammonia

Blue ammonia is produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Hydrogen is separated from natural gas through steam methane reforming (SMR) or auto thermal reforming. Carbon capture technologies are used to remove the CO2 generated through this process and transport it for re-use or long-term storage. Nitrogen gas is obtained through air separation and then combined with the hydrogen gas to produce ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process. 

  • Resources: natural gas, air, storage capacity for carbon 
  • Production technology: SMR or ATM, CCS, air separation, Haber-Bosch 
  • Bunkering and ports: storage tanks at ports, bunkering systems (barges, pipes, ship2ship) 
  • Handling and storage: fuel tanks 
  • Propulsion: internal combustion engine 
E-ammonia

E-ammonia (also referred to as green ammonia) is produced using renewable energy. Renewable energy is used to separate hydrogen from water through electrolysis, creating e-hydrogen. Nitrogen gas is obtained through air separation and then combined with hydrogen gas to produce ammonia through the Haber-Bosch process. 

  • Resources: renewable power, water, air 
  • Production technology: electrolyser, air separation, Haber-Bosch 
  • Bunkering and ports: storage tanks at ports, bunkering systems (barges, pipes, ship2ship) 
  • Handling and storage: fuel tanks 
  • Propulsion: internal combustion engine 

 

Ammonia readiness insights

Review data on blue and e-ammonia
Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)

 

Resources
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 5 Testing prototype in user environment Natural gas production is mature, but storage of captured carbon is still limited Exploration of new sites for storage and growth in re-use and recycling of carbon markets is needed. Additionally, effectiveness of long-term storage (lack of carbon leakage) needs to be proven.
E-ammonia 7 Low-scale pilot production demonstrated Pilots have been demonstrated. Scale up required to meet shipping demands A scaled up supply chain and workforce needs to be established for the supply of renewable electricity for the purpose of ammonia production for shipping. For this scale-up to take place, there will need to be demand signals from the market.

 

Production
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 5 Testing prototype in user environment CCS has been validated in test environments in the context of the end-to-end production, however this validation has not been scaled up to reliably deliver the volume required to produce sufficient ammonia fuel for commercial shipping. Air separation and the Haber-Bosch process are well-established. CCS facilities need to be industrialised at scale. Exploration of new sites for storage and growth in re-use and recycling of carbon markets is needed. 
E-ammonia 5 Testing prototype in user environment Scaling of the electrolysis process is now demonstrated in isolated projects. Air separation and the Haber-Bosch process are well-established. Electrolysis facilities need to be industrialised at scale.

 

Bunkering and ports
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 3 First assessment feasibility concept and technologies Studies into ammonia bunkering have been completed, and preparation for pilots underway Pilots need to demonstrate the capability and reliability of the technology, and prove it is economically viable.
E-ammonia

 

Ship - Onboard handling and storage
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 4 Validation of integrated prototype in test environment Environmental and health measures have been identified but not proven to be mitigated  Onboard storage and handling of toxic fuels requires extensive risk mitigation measures. Such risk mitigations have been identified, however they now need to be fully developed and tested.
E-ammonia

 

Ship - Propulsion
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 4 Validation of integrated prototype in test environment Ammonia fuelled engines are going through full scale validation testing Ammonia-fuelled engine pilots are needed to demonstrate the capability and reliability of the technology, and prove economic viability.
E-ammonia

 

Investment Readiness Levels (IRL)

 

Resources
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 2 Commercial trial, small scale Storage has not reached scale required to attract investment Signals need to be provided to investors that show a stable, attractive market, in order to stimulate scale-up of supply.
E-ammonia 2 Commercial trial, small scale Small scale commercial trials exist, but scale up is still in the planning phase.  There is a need to reduce risks of investing in countries with low credit ratings because many of these countries are well suited to provide renewable resources. 

 

Production
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 2 Commercial trial, small scale CCS costs and scale not at levels to attract investment in scale Signals need to be provided to investors that show a stable, attractive the market.  
E-ammonia 2 Commercial trial, small scale Small scale commercial trials exist but scale up is still in the planning phase.  Signals need to be provided to investors that show a stable, attractive the market. Note: in the short term e-ammonia will be more expensive than blue ammonia produced with SMR or ATM & CCS, so e-ammonia will need to become more competitive.

 

Bunkering and ports
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 1 Hypothetical commercial proposition Results of research projects now publicly available however commercial trials not yet commenced Strong demand signals for ammonia as a fuel by shipping are needed to stimulate increased investment in the development of port infrastructure for ammonia bunkering.
E-ammonia

 

Ship
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 2 Commercial trial, small scale Approval in Principle announcements are increasing, and some Ammonia Ready and dual fuel vessels have been announced with commercial trials yet to begin. The competitiveness of ammonia against alternative options needs to be proven in the mid-and long-term. Incentives to invest in ammonia are needed from regulatory change. Additionally, technology readiness needs to increase for commercial trials to start. 
E-ammonia

 

Community Readiness Levels (IRL)

 

Resources
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 2 Stakeholder support or opposition is becoming understood as a result of pilots Multiple unknowns around carbon storage, regulation and sustainability Effectiveness of long-term storage (lack of carbon leakage) needs to be proven and communities need to be educated on the risks and benefits.
E-ammonia 4 Evidence becoming wide-spread resulting in initial stakeholder acceptance Small scale solutions show some acceptance at a local level, however scaling renewable electricity requires community acceptance around potential environmental and social impacts Communities need educating on the wider benefits of renewable energy and to dedicate land use for these purposes.

 

Production
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 4 Evidence becoming wide-spread resulting in initial stakeholder acceptance CCS acceptance exists in some communities, but challenges remain High capture rates and effectiveness of long-term storage (lack of carbon leakage) need to be proven with evidence.
E-ammonia 5 Increased transparency and formalised processes driving momentum for change Solutions have now been proven with community acceptance although concerns have arisen around resource constraints. Electrolysis has been proven, however resource availability (land use for renewable power) is the limiting factor and main community concern.

 

Bunkering and ports
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 1 Stakeholder support or opposition is hypothetical Regionalised ammonia storage and port infrastructures under consideration, however a global approach has not commenced Globally accepted codes and standards for the safe integration of ammonia storage and transfer need to be developed.
E-ammonia

 

Ship
Fuel Type Rating Description Justification Challenge
Blue ammonia 2 Stakeholder support or opposition is becoming understood as a result of pilots There is some safety regulatory framework that have started being developed, but community acceptance as well as sustainability measures are lagging.  Policy needs to be stable and consistent across the value chain, and globally. Note: pilot fuel needed because of low flammability of ammonia so will be difficult to reach overall zero carbon emissions for propulsion.
E-ammonia