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 | Production technology | Bunkering and ports | Handling and storage | Propulsion |
| Natural gas, air, storage capacity for carbon | SMR or ATM, CCS, air separation, Haber-Bosch | Storage tanks at ports, bunkering systems (barges, pipes, ship2ship) | Fuel tanks | Internal combustion engine |
The readiness level view shows Technology on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest), and both Investment and Community on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). In the supply chain view all figures are displayed on a percentage basis to allow like for like comparison, against a scale in 10% increments.
| Technology | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 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 |
| Production | 5 | Testing prototype in user environment | CCS has been validated in test environments in the context of 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 reuse and recycling of carbon markets is needed. |
| Bunkering and ports | 5 | Testing prototype in user environment | Studies into ammonia bunkering have been completed, and demonstration projects, such as the ship-to-ship bunkering in the Pilbara and the bunkering of Fortescue's Green Pioneer in Singapore, have taken place. | Further pilots are needed to demonstrate the capability and reliability of the technology under different conditions, and prove it is economically viable. |
| Ship - Onboard handling and storage | 5 | Testing prototype in user environment | Environmental and health measures have been identified but not proven to be mitigated. However, in a prototype environment the Green Pioneer vessel has mitigated the health measures. | Associated systems for storage and handling of toxic fuels requires extensive risk mitigation measures. Such risks have now been mitigated on a prototype level, however they need to be fully developed and tested. |
| Ship - Propulsion (combustion engine) | 5 | Testing prototype in user environment | This rating is currently based on the Green Pioneer vessel as an example. The mainstream manufacturers are still going through full scale validation testing on ammonia fuelled engines. | Ammonia-fuelled engine pilots are needed to demonstrate the capability and reliability of the technology. |
| Ship - Propulsion (fuel cells) | 6 | Pre-production product | A near-shore supply vessel in Spain is operating using ammonia fuel cells, and LR has issued an AiPs for this technology, for example to SHI and Amogy for an ammonia carrier with an ammonia fuel cell. Note that reformer technology may also be included at this stage. | Further testing in maritime conditions through pilots is needed. |
| Investment | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 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
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| Production | 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. |
| Bunkering and ports | 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.
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| Ship | 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.
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| Community | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 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 |
| Production | 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 |
| Bunkering and ports | 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 |
| Ship | 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 |
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Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor
