Green ammonia
Topic: Environment and Sustainable Development · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Green ammonia is ammonia made using green hydrogen, which is hydrogen produced by splitting water with renewable electricity. The whole process is powered by clean energy, so it releases almost no carbon. Green ammonia can be used as a raw material for fertiliser, as a fuel for ships, or as a hydrogen carrier. A hydrogen carrier is a form in which hydrogen can be stored and transported more easily.
Example
Indian fertiliser plants today make ammonia from hydrogen produced using natural gas, which releases CO2. Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (January 2023), such plants can switch to green hydrogen. The urea made from that ammonia would then carry a much smaller carbon footprint.
Don't confuse with
- Grey ammonia: this is made from hydrogen produced from natural gas without capturing the CO2. It is the same chemical, but it comes with high emissions.
Related concepts
- Energy transition
- Energy trilemma
- Energy intensity
- Coal phase-down
- Grey hydrogen
- Blue hydrogen
- Green hydrogen
- Hydrogen economy
- Green premium
- Carbon capture, utilisation and storage