21 Floating Blue Ammonia Production
21 Floating Blue Ammonia Production
21 Floating Blue Ammonia Production
Production: Creating a
Zero-Carbon Emission Fuel
Ammonia is a stable
compound and cost-
effective transporter of
hydrogen. Ammonia is
currently produced in Haber-Bosch process:
large quantities using Pure hydrogen
commercially proven catalytically reacted
processes that often starts with with pure nitrogen
natural gas (NG) as the feedstock. in a reactor to form
anhydrous liquid
ammonia
Liquid ammonia is more energy dense than liquid hydrogen, allowing it to store more energy at the same volume.
Liquefied ammonia also provides a safer, cheaper and less energy-intensive means of transport across long
distances than the transport of liquified hydrogen.
Energy Efficiency
Energy/Weight Energy/Volume Liquid Temperature
(Energy out/Energy
(kJ/kg) (kJ/m3) (C)
In)
Hydrogen (Compressed Gas) 120,000 2,110,132 -253 83%
Hydrogen (Liquid) 120,000 9,323,189 -253 56%
Ammonia 18,600 11,457,600 -33 62%
LNG 49,000 21,217,000 -162 93%
(1) Table is based on lower heating values (LHV)
(2) Energy/Volume based on storage conditions
(3) Compressed hydrogen is at 245 barg and 20 C
Upon delivery, ammonia can be used directly as a fuel or converted back to hydrogen by cracking technology. In
either scenario a clean-burning fuel, that releases no CO2 at the point of combustion, is available. This combination
highlights ammonia’s potential to accelerate the transition to carbon free energy across energy-intensive industries
such as power generation, transportation and green chemicals.
Compared to land-based facilities, the development of An additional strength of floating blue ammonia
floating LNG liquefaction vessels offers a faster return production is associated with CO2. After capturing the
on investment due to the shorter period from final CO2, there will be a need for necessary infrastructure
investment decision (FID) to commercial operation. This to transport and deposit the gas to the nearest feasible
is in large part due to shipyard construction often being carbon storage unit. It is the very real possibility that
more efficient than building onshore. Floating units are there might be existing infrastructure in place to allow
also not fixed to one location and mobility can extend for direct disposal of the captured CO2 to depleted
the life of the facility by redeploying to new resource wells through existing pipelines which potentially
locations. could significantly reduce the cost associated with
the liquefaction, transportation and storage of CO2 at
It is likely that these same benefits can be obtained with another location.
floating blue ammonia production units (FNH3). We
envision the possibility of the use of these units, similar
to natural gas liquefaction and storage on ships by
building upon the established track record of Golar and
By embracing decarbonization, reevaluating current revenue streams, and being open to new revenue
opportunities, companies can achieve their 2050 decarbonization targets in a sustainable way.
Future papers in the series: Floating Ammonia Facilities - CO2 Capture and Uses
Additional resources:
Black & Veatch Joins Hydrogen Council, Reflecting Commitment to Hydrogen as a Zero-Carbon Solution
https://www.bv.com/news/black-veatch-joins-hydrogen-council-reflecting-commitment-hydrogen-zero-carbon-solution