During the recent AEA Annual Conference 2024, the status of ammonia as fuel for gas turbines was discussed, featuring a panel of global OEMs and gas turbine experts. We explore the technology developments to date, different fuel strategies for ammonia, demonstration projects planned, and the pathway forward for deployment.
To open the AEA’s 2024 Annual Conference in New Orleans, H2Global Managing Director Timo Bollerhey presented updates from the “green market maker”. To meet global climate targets, we need to accelerate market creation and maturation, and push past key tipping points. H2Global does this by bridging the green premium gap between sellers and buyers and facilitating transactions for clean commodities. A successful first ammonia auction was concluded in 2024, informing plans for a second, larger, truly global auction round that will be launched in the near future.
During the recent 2024 Ammonia Energy Conference, we explored all the latest developments in ammonia-powered maritime propulsion. Engine makers reported strong progress ahead of deployment in 2026, the same year that large-scale vessels will hit the water. The panel explored early operations for the ammonia-powered A-Tug in Japan, as well as ancillary technology systems required for maritime ammonia engines, catalyst after-treatment systems for emission mitigation, and the potential for fuel additives to boost ammonia engine performance.
2024 has already been a busy year, with ammonia discussions at an exciting phase. Despite the hesitancy and doubts about ammonia I have heard at recent events, I continue to deliver the same constructive messages, and urge the AEA membership and networks to use the information available to continue to promote ammonia. Our upcoming annual event in New Orleans will explore progress in establishing ammonia markets, and I can’t wait to see you all again in-person.
Our recent conference in Atlanta, USA marked an incredible 20 year journey for the AEA. From humble beginnings, the Association is now in a position to have a critical impact on the growth of the clean ammonia industry, with certification, safety and increased collaboration between members all on the near-term agenda.
Decarbonization of existing steam methane reforming-based ammonia plants is possible, and changes in gas and heat flows can be recovered via alternative technologies. Recap our workshop in Atlanta, where we discussed the use of upstream methane monitoring equipment, electrolysers, carbon capture, hydrogen burners, energy storage and electric heating to achieve decarbonization of conventional ammonia plants.
In this session at our 2023 annual conference, panelists explored the challenges and opportunities for designing certification schemes for different markets. Moderated by Madhav Acharya, the discussion featured Emily Wolf from Ambient Fuel, Claire Behar from Hy Stor Energy, Domagoj Baresic from the UCL Energy Institute and Patrick Hastwell from KBR.
Compliance with EU standards offers flexibility for producers and will facilitate the immediate scale-up of export markets, but progress towards an umbrella-style certification scheme remains in focus for the AEA. Broad-based certification schemes will help create new voluntary demand markets and avoid a sector-by-sector approach to developing certification.
In this session at our 2023 annual conference, panelists discussed how ammonia certification methods should be data-centric, and focus less on colour labels. The panel featured Alicia Eastman (InterContinental Energy), Shigeru Muraki (Clean Fuel Ammonia Association), Wouter Vanhoudt (Hinicio), Linda Dempsey (CF Industries) and Conor Fürstenberg Stott (Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory).
Certification based on actual GHG emissions intensity is the principle on which the AEA’s certification system is being built, and the issue is becoming an increasingly important subject at international fora such as the IMO, the G7 and the G20.
This session of our 2023 annual conference explored the need for high quality data as an input to ammonia certification. The panel featured Jennifer Beach (Starfire Energy), Lara Owens (MiQ), Jim Seely (Authentix), Selim Sevikel (Global CCS Institute), and Rajiv Sabharwal (Bureau Veritas).
This issue is a key focus for the AEA, as our under-development ammonia certification system will require auditable data from a host of stakeholders – including gas and electricity suppliers, CO2 offtakers, and others – in order to calculate a true and trustworthy carbon footprint.