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Gas-based reforming for low-emission ammonia production: ATR, POX, and two-step reforming
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Gas-based reforming for low-emission ammonia production: ATR, POX, and two-step reforming

Kevin Rouwenhorst August 06, 2025

Current global ammonia production is mostly based on gas-fed, two-stage reforming processs. Decarbonization of this existing production capacity – as well as new newbuild low-emission capacity also based on gas – can utilize an industrially-proven suite of alternative technologies and processes, including autothermal reforming, and partial oxidation combined with CCS. This article discusses some of the technologies available from various tech providers, and reference projects in operation.

Ammonia bunkering: moving from demonstrations to operations
Article

Ammonia bunkering: moving from demonstrations to operations

Kevin Rouwenhorst July 28, 2025

In our recent episode of Project Features, we explored the outcomes from a recent ammonia bunkering demonstration at the Port of Rotterdam. With twelve ammonia transfer and bunkering demonstrations occurring in nine global locations since 2024, where does the Port Readiness Level for ammonia bunkering stand in Rotterdam and elsewhere, what are the key technical learnings, and what gaps remain?

IRENA: multi-commodity green trade flows by 2050
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IRENA: multi-commodity green trade flows by 2050

Julian Atchison July 22, 2025

IRENA’s new market analysis forecasts a diverse landscape of commodity flows based on electrolytic hydrogen by 2050, with ammonia predicted to be both the most in-demand and the “most traded” of the hydrogen commodities. IRENA predicts flows of more than 100 million tons per year by mid-century, with major exporters to potentially include China and the USA.

Emission performance of ammonia-fueled, four-stroke marine engines
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Emission performance of ammonia-fueled, four-stroke marine engines

Kevin Rouwenhorst June 03, 2025

We explore recent, full-scale, four-stroke engine testing results from IHI and Wärtsilä. Testing indicates N2O emissions can be almost fully eliminated with catalytic treatment, and significantly lower NOX emissions for engines running in ammonia mode, compared to running on diesel. While ammonia slip remains a key consideration due to the design of a four-stroke engine, catalytic treatment of the exhaust can eliminate even high concentrations, and release mitigation systems have already been designed and deployed to ensure safe operations.

Ammonia marine fuel cheapest option from late 2030s, dual-fuel vessels lowest-risk
Article

Ammonia marine fuel cheapest option from late 2030s, dual-fuel vessels lowest-risk

Julian Atchison May 30, 2025

Based on their analysis, UMAS and the University College of London conclude that scalable e-fuels have the highest potential to meet shipping’s new decarbonization targets, but that the next decade is critical to ensure supply chains are ready to supply these fuels. Ammonia-LNG dual-fuel vessels represent the lowest-risk, cheapest decarbonization option to the mid 2030s.

Emission performance of ammonia-fueled, two-stroke marine engines
Article

Emission performance of ammonia-fueled, two-stroke marine engines

Kevin Rouwenhorst May 06, 2025

We explore recent, full-scale, dual-fuel engine testing results from leading maritime vendors such as MAN Energy Solutions and WinGD. Testing indicates negligible emissions of the potent GHG N2O (which can be fully eliminated with catalytic treatment), and significantly lower NOX emissions for engines running in ammonia mode, compared to running on fuel oil or diesel. Overall, compliance with IMO Tier II and III emission limits is well within reach for the first generation of ammonia-fueled maritime engines.