Context
At the inaugural session of India Energy Week (IEW) in January 2026, India announced a shift from energy security to energy independence and positioned $500 billion investment opportunities across the energy sector.
The strategy emphasizes clean energy transition, with green hydrogen as a key pillar and green ammonia identified as a critical derivative for decarbonizing fertilizers, clean energy, and marine fuel.
1. About Green Ammonia
- Green ammonia, also known as renewable ammonia, is a form of ammonia that is produced using renewable energy sources and which is proposed as a sustainable, emission-free alternative with a multitude of applications in industry and other sectors.
- Unlike traditional “grey” ammonia that uses fossil fuels, green ammonia emits zero carbon, offering a sustainable solution for environment.
2. Production and Technology
Process:
- Green hydrogen is first produced through water electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity.
- The process relies on clean energy sources like solar or wind power to keep it carbon-free.
- The hydrogen is then combined with atmospheric nitrogen using the Haber-Bosch process under high pressure, temperature, and a catalyst.
- This results in the production of green ammonia made entirely from green hydrogen and nitrogen.
3. What are the main uses/importance of green ammonia?
- Efficient Hydrogen Carrier: Green ammonia is produced by combining nitrogen with green hydrogen. Ammonia has a much higher volumetric energy density than hydrogen gas, making it an excellent medium for storing and releasing hydrogen for various industrial applications.
- Power generation fuel: Can be burned or co-fired in thermal power plants with low emissions.
- Marine fuel: Emerging zero-carbon fuel option for ships and the shipping industry.
- Industrial decarbonization: Used in chemicals, steel, and other hard-to-abate sectors.
- Ease of Storage and Transport: Hydrogen gas is difficult to handle because it requires extremely high pressure or cryogenic temperatures. Ammonia, however, can be liquefied at much more modest pressures and temperatures, making it significantly easier to store and transport using existing infrastructure
4. Comparison of Types: Blue Ammonia vs Green Ammonia
| Feature | Blue Ammonia | Green Ammonia |
| Hydrogen Source | Natural Gas (Fossil Fuel) | Water (Electrolysis) |
| Energy Source | Fossil Fuels + CCS | Renewable Energy (Solar/Wind) |
| Carbon Status | Low-Carbon (Carbon Captured) | Zero-Carbon |
| Cost | Lower cost than green, utilizes existing infrastructure | Currently more expensive |
5. India’s Green Ammonia Auction Model
- Implementing Agency: Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) under the National Green Hydrogen Mission.
6. Challenges
- Costs: Currently, green ammonia is more expensive to produce than conventional ammonia, though costs are decreasing with advancements.
- Energy-intensive process: Electrolysis and Haber-Bosch synthesis require large amounts of energy.
- Infrastructure gaps: Limited facilities for storage, transport, and large-scale handling.
- Safety concerns: Ammonia is toxic and requires strict safety measures.
Green ammonia is mainly considered important in the clean-energy transition because:
1. It can act as an efficient hydrogen carrier.
2. It can be used as a low-carbon marine fuel.
3. It is easier to store and transport than hydrogen gas.
Options:
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: D
Explanation:
• Statement 1 is correct: Efficient Hydrogen Carrier: Green ammonia is produced by combining nitrogen with green hydrogen. Ammonia has a much higher volumetric energy density than hydrogen gas, making it an excellent medium for storing and releasing hydrogen for various industrial applications.
• Statement 2 is correct: Low-Carbon Marine Fuel: The article explicitly identifies marine fuel as one of the wide-ranging applications for green ammonia. Because it is produced without carbon-intensive fossil fuels, it serves as a critical tool for decarbonizing the global shipping industry.
• Statement 3 is correct:. Ease of Storage and Transport: Hydrogen gas is difficult to handle because it requires extremely high pressure or cryogenic temperatures. Ammonia, however, can be liquefied at much more modest pressures and temperatures, making it significantly easier to store and transport using existing infrastructure. This is why the article highlights that green ammonia procurement increases its appeal for scale-up in global markets.
