The EU has set a legally binding climate target for 2040, at a 90% GHG emission reduction versus 1990 levels. But, while the 2030 emission target can theoretically be met with limited modifications to existing ammonia production plants in the EU, new technology pathway choices will have to be made well before 2040 to ensure compliance. We explore some of the options, and projects in progress.
Despite the successes and progress made in 2025, the year remains a missed opportunity for ammonia energy. The first complete supply chains for renewable ammonia are emerging, and some 600,000 tons of annual production capacity is set to be online in northeast China early next year. Maritime engines, cracking, and power & heat technology solutions also made their mark, moving from feasibility into deployment. But disappointing outcomes at the IMO and government support that failed to spark market development remains an issue, with plenty of critical, detail-heavy work ahead of us in 2026.
CMB.TECH has signed an off-take agreement for renewable ammonia produced by Energy China at its now-operational Songyuan project in Jilin Province, northeast China. CMB.TECH will also acquire a minority stake in Jiangsu Andefu (ADF) one of China's largest ammonia supply chain companies and China’s first exporter of liquid ammonia in 2011.
NH3 Clean Energy and Japanese trader ITOCHU will collaborate over the next two years to support the development of ammonia bunkering operations in the Pilbara by 2030.
The pair are in advanced negotiations to cement a partnership that will de-risk and progress two key production projects: the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex in the USA, and NEOM in Saudi Arabia.
INPEX has officially opened the Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park, featuring a CCUS-based hydrogen and ammonia demonstration plant. The project is focused on local customers for each of the facility’s products: hydrogen, electricity, and ammonia.
Following the publication of the AEA’s new report on ammonia gas detection, members of the task force that developed the report joined experts and AEA staff for a launch webinar. We discussed the key takeaways from the report, must-knows and first steps for deploying ammonia gas detection, common misconceptions, and the challenges ahead for effectively utilizing ammonia gas detection in new ammonia energy applications.
GreenGo Energy and SELECT Energy have signed a strategic partnership to develop a 4 million tons per year renewable ammonia project near Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott. The Mauritanian government has also reached a framework agreement with German developer Möhring Energie for the development of project NAYRAH, which will produce about 400,000 tons per year of renewable ammonia. This follows the government’s launch of its national “Green Hydrogen Code” in October this year.
In our November episode of Project Features, Juwö Poroton and Ammonigy joined us to explore their “CO2-free brick production” project, demonstrating the use of cracked ammonia fuel to fire bricks in Wöllstein, Germany. Though hurdles remain for the deployment of the solution at the necessary scale, promising operational results and quality-checked final products were achieved, and progress is being made towards emissions mitigation.
Air Liquide has announced the successful start-up of its first industrial-scale ammonia cracking pilot unit at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium.