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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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.
|
| 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.
|
| Community | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 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 | 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 | 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. |
Review expertise, readiness levels and data on future fuels
Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor
