{"id":51781,"date":"2025-04-28T06:37:02","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T04:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/en\/?p=51781"},"modified":"2025-07-29T11:14:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T09:14:35","slug":"green-ammonia-drives-decarbonisation-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wika.com\/en\/applications\/green-ammonia-drives-decarbonisation-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGreen\u201d ammonia drives decarbonisation forward"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cGreen\u201d ammonia is an ideal energy carrier. Being free of carbon, it offers a highly interesting potential for the future. As a typical building block of the \u201cpower-to-X\u201d principle, \u201cgreen\u201d ammonia contributes to driving decarbonisation \u2013 in particular as a means of transport for hydrogen. Since the launch of the advanced ammonia production process, WIKA has been supporting plant developers and operators with customised instrumentation solutions for the measurands pressure, temperature, level and flow.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Up to now, ammonia or NH3<\/sub> has predominantly served as the basis for fertilisers. It is produced synthetically from hydrogen (H2<\/sub>) and nitrogen (N2<\/sub>) in a reactor. The conventional hydrogen production process mainly takes place in a steam methane reformer (SMR) and involves a high input of fossil raw materials and fossil fuels \u2013 especially natural gas \u2013 with corresponding CO2<\/sub> emissions into the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Production using renewable electrical energy<\/h2>\n

However, the global push for alternative energy sources has now led to a change from \u201cgrey\u201d to \u201cgreen\u201d ammonia. The change is based on the \u201cpower-to-X\u201d strategy. This means that renewable electrical energy is used to obtain the required chemical molecules. In the case of ammonia, wind and solar energy is used to power the electrolysis plants for hydrogen production from water as well as the air separation units (ASU) for nitrogen extraction from the air.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreen\u201d ammonia offers more versatile uses than \u201cgrey\u201d NH3<\/sub><\/h2>\n

Compared to the \u201cgrey\u201d product, \u201cgreen\u201d ammonia can be used in more ways: not only as an important fertiliser but also as fuel, for example, for the energy-intensive shipbuilding industry. Additionally, it plays an important role as a carrier medium for \u201cgreen\u201d hydrogen. This is because NH3<\/sub> enables energy-efficient and space-saving ship transport from the regions where hydrogen is produced to regions worldwide with a high demand. At the destination, ammonia crackers split off the hydrogen again and make it available to all consumers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n

\"The

\u201cGreen\u201d ammonia: The diagram shows the value chain based on the \u201cpower-to-X\u201d strategy.<\/p><\/div>\n \n

Demand will triple by the year 2050<\/h2>\n

Given these opportunities, the ammonia demand will grow from previously 200 million tonnes per year to an estimated 690 million tonnes in 2050 according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Ammonia Energy Association (AEA). That is why the industry is investing heavily in production and logistics. Worldwide, there are 300 registered projects for the production of \u201cgreen\u201d NH3<\/sub>. WIKA offers a complete portfolio of solutions in this field.<\/p>\n

Examples of tailor-made measuring systems along the value chain<\/h2>\n

Due to specific challenges, numerous process steps along the NH3<\/sup> value chain require tailor-made measuring systems. Here are four examples:<\/p>\n\n

\"Typical

For each step along the value chain, WIKA offers suitable measuring systems (clockwise from left), for example a level indicator with double-chamber system for ammonia separation and liquefaction, the model TC96-O Flex-O\u2122 multipoint thermocouple for ammonia synthesis, the HHR FlowPak\u00ae flow meter for the air separation unit and the model TC59-E eTEFRACTO-PAD\u00ae tubeskin thermocouple assembly for ammonia cracking.<\/p><\/div>\n \n