Ammonia for Carbon-Free Energy: Production, Transport, Storage, and Conversion

Dear Colleagues,

We are in the midst of a global systemic shift away from fossil fuel use towards alternative power sources in every sector. While it is widely agreed that there is no perfect solution (i.e., a silver bullet), a few options do exhibit the technology readiness, magnitude of production, potential for multi-sector application, and scope for future improvements required to address this challenge. Ammonia (NH₃) is one such option.

c.180Mt p.a. is consistently one of the most produced chemicals today. While it is currently predominantly used for fertiliser, its production supports roughly half of the global population and accounts for 1.3% of global fossil fuel consumption. While the decarbonisation of ammonia production is important in its own right, once decarbonised, using either mature or novel technology, it has many other potential uses, such as shipping and aviation fuel, as an energy vector, and for energy storage. Only careful and creative considerations across the value chain will enable green ammonia to be deployed successfully and dependably at the scale and rate required.

Both technical and economic improvements in key production processes, such as hydrogen production and ammonia synthesis, could be game-changing. However, safety is of paramount importance. Whilst ammonia has been globally handled for over a century, implementing different production methods, storage requirements, and uses in new sectors requires careful consideration and regulation. With greater demand and new applications, consideration of the logistics is key to its successful deployment quickly and at scale. While there have been notable developments in this area, both academically and commercially, the conversion of ammonia to a source of power remains a key field of interest given its importance for many uses. Alongside this is the need to better understand the future demand for green ammonia as an energy vector / long-term energy storage solution. Techno-economic analysis along the value chain remains important to inform stakeholders, from those working on fundamental research to system planners/policymakers.

This Special Issue aims to present recent progress on the production, logistics, and/or use of ammonia as a fuel for carbon-free energy, which could contribute to an improved understanding of its impact on the energy sector. Original research articles and comprehensive reviews along with well-documented case studies will be considered for publication.

The following topics will be addressed:

• Novel methods of ammonia production using renewable energy sources;
• Developments of ammonia and/or hydrogen production;
• Safety, regulation, and/or public acceptance of using ammonia as an energy source;
• Logistical considerations from production to use;
• Conversion of ammonia to power;
• Requirement of an alternative energy vector/long-term energy storage option such as ammonia;
• Market and techno-economic analysis of any aspect(s) of this value chain;
• Investigation of sector coupling and its opportunities and challenges;
• Report on case studies of any aspect(s) of this value chain;
• Environmental studies of any aspect(s) of this value chain.

Dr. Richard Nayak-Luke
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• ammonia
• hydrogen production
• alternative energy
• carbon-free energy
• energy storage