1356. The Potential of Low-Carbon Ammonia Fertilizer

Ammonia is an essential chemical in agriculture and is primarily used to manufacture fertilizers, which are essential for food security. Its production is energy-intensive and requires vast amounts of natural gas, impacting the location of ammonia plants, many of which are located near abundant natural gas sources, such as parts of the Near East, the Russian Federation, Trinidad and Tobago, Algeria, and Egypt. However, imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) has made it possible to build ammonia production facilities in regions with limited natural gas resources, such as India. China produces ammonia using a coal-based method.

This article from the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) introduces the potential of low-carbon ammonia fertilizer.

Ammonia production has a significant environmental impact. It accounts for approximately 2% of global energy consumption and 1.3% of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Globally, approximately 80% of ammonia (approximately 152 million tons) is used as fertilizer. The need to decarbonize agriculture as a climate change countermeasure has led to growing interest in "low-carbon ammonia." Low-carbon ammonia production depends on the carbon intensity of the hydrogen used in ammonia synthesis. Policymakers and industry leaders have adopted a classification system based on ammonia's carbon footprint.

Gray ammonia: Conventional ammonia produced from hydrocarbons such as natural gas and coal. Without carbon capture or reduction, CO₂ emissions increase significantly.

Blue ammonia: Similar to gray ammonia, but incorporates carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. The CO₂ produced is captured and stored or reused, reducing net emissions. Blue ammonia production is gaining momentum in countries with well-developed CCS infrastructure, such as the United States and some Near Eastern countries.

Green ammonia: Produced through electrolysis or hydrolysis using renewable electricity and water. Because hydrogen is produced without the use of fossil fuels, CO₂ emissions are essentially zero. Green ammonia is considered carbon-neutral or zero-carbon and is attracting attention as a promising solution for sustainable fertilizer production. A pilot project is investigating green ammonia as a climate-friendly nitrogen source in agriculture.

Low-carbon ammonia is essential for reducing the climate impact of global food production. Integrating renewable energy into ammonia synthesis has the potential to transform the fertilizer industry. Advances in renewable energy, hydrogen production, and carbon capture are driving innovation in ammonia production, making the future of efficient, environmentally responsible fertilizer production increasingly feasible. However, significant challenges remain. The production, storage, and transportation of low-carbon ammonia require significant investment. The cost-competitiveness of green and blue ammonia compared to traditional gray ammonia remains unclear.

In conclusion, ammonia plays a vital role in the global fertilizer sector, supporting both agricultural production and food security. The transition to low-carbon ammonia signals a broader commitment to sustainability across the fertilizer industry, enabling fertilizer manufacturers to significantly reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the decarbonization of agriculture and related sectors. To fully realize the benefits of low-carbon ammonia as a sustainable resource for future food systems, continued collaboration between government officials, industry leaders, and researchers to address current challenges is essential.

Contributor: IIYAMA Miyuki, Information Program