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A Review of the Latest Trends in the Use of Green Ammonia as an Energy Carrier in Maritime Industry

Author

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  • George Mallouppas

    (Marine and Offshore Science, Technology, and Engineering Centre, Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Larnaca 6023, Cyprus)

  • Constantina Ioannou

    (Marine and Offshore Science, Technology, and Engineering Centre, Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Larnaca 6023, Cyprus)

  • Elias Ar. Yfantis

    (Marine and Offshore Science, Technology, and Engineering Centre, Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Larnaca 6023, Cyprus)

Abstract

This review paper examines the key barriers to using green ammonia as an alternative fuel in maritime industry. A literature survey is performed based on research articles and grey literature, with the aim of discussing the technoeconomic problems with and benefits of ammonia and the relevant technologies. The limitations of ammonia as a maritime fuel and its supply chain, the expected percentage demand by 2030 and 2050, its economic performance compared to other shipping fuels such as hydrogen, and the current regulations that may impact ammonia as a maritime fuel are discussed. There are several key barriers to ammonia’s wide adoption: (1) High production costs, due to the high capital costs associated with ammonia’s supply chain; (2) availability, specifically the limited geographical locations available for ammonia bunkering; (3) the challenge of ramping up current ammonia production; and (4) the development of ammonia-specific regulations addressing issues such as toxicity, safety, and storage. The general challenges involved with blue ammonia are the large energy penalty and associated operational costs, and a lack of technical expertise on its use. Regardless of the origin, for ammonia to be truly zero-carbon its whole lifecycle must be considered—a key challenge that will aid in the debate about whether ammonia holds promise as a zero-carbon maritime fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • George Mallouppas & Constantina Ioannou & Elias Ar. Yfantis, 2022. "A Review of the Latest Trends in the Use of Green Ammonia as an Energy Carrier in Maritime Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-11, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1453-:d:751198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Itf, 2018. "Decarbonising Maritime Transport: Pathways to zero-carbon shipping by 2035," International Transport Forum Policy Papers 47, OECD Publishing.
    2. Afif, Ahmed & Radenahmad, Nikdalila & Cheok, Quentin & Shams, Shahriar & Kim, Jung H. & Azad, Abul K., 2016. "Ammonia-fed fuel cells: a comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 822-835.
    3. Andrea Guati-Rojo & Christina Demski & Wouter Poortinga & Agustin Valera-Medina, 2021. "Public Attitudes and Concerns about Ammonia as an Energy Vector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Thomas Buckley Imhoff & Savvas Gkantonas & Epaminondas Mastorakos, 2021. "Analysing the Performance of Ammonia Powertrains in the Marine Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-41, November.
    5. Michail Cheliotis & Evangelos Boulougouris & Nikoletta L Trivyza & Gerasimos Theotokatos & George Livanos & George Mantalos & Athanasios Stubos & Emmanuel Stamatakis & Alexandros Venetsanos, 2021. "Review on the Safe Use of Ammonia Fuel Cells in the Maritime Industry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Seamus P. Kane & William F. Northrop, 2021. "Thermochemical Recuperation to Enable Efficient Ammonia-Diesel Dual-Fuel Combustion in a Compression Ignition Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-21, November.
    7. Muhammad Aziz & Agung Tri Wijayanta & Asep Bayu Dani Nandiyanto, 2020. "Ammonia as Effective Hydrogen Storage: A Review on Production, Storage and Utilization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-25, June.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wahyu Prasetyo Utomo & Hao Wu & Yun Hau Ng, 2022. "Quantification Methodology of Ammonia Produced from Electrocatalytic and Photocatalytic Nitrogen/Nitrate Reduction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    3. Rafael Estevez & Francisco J. López-Tenllado & Laura Aguado-Deblas & Felipa M. Bautista & Antonio A. Romero & Diego Luna, 2023. "Current Research on Green Ammonia (NH 3 ) as a Potential Vector Energy for Power Storage and Engine Fuels: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-33, July.
    4. Nami, Hossein & Hendriksen, Peter Vang & Frandsen, Henrik Lund, 2024. "Green ammonia production using current and emerging electrolysis technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    5. George Mallouppas & Elias Ar. Yfantis & Constantina Ioannou & Andreas Paradeisiotis & Angelos Ktoris, 2023. "Application of Biogas and Biomethane as Maritime Fuels: A Review of Research, Technology Development, Innovation Proposals, and Market Potentials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Sebastián Mantilla & Diogo M. F. Santos, 2022. "Green and Blue Hydrogen Production: An Overview in Colombia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-21, November.
    7. Flamand, Marina & Frigant, Vincent & Miollan, Stéphane & Dimitrova, Zlatina & Sauve, Henri, 2024. "Evaluating the TIS's knowledge production function using patent data: A multi-criteria approach applied to the technological bricks of the hydrogen storage," MPRA Paper 123050, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Qichen Wang & Zhengmeng Hou & Yilin Guo & Liangchao Huang & Yanli Fang & Wei Sun & Yuhan Ge, 2023. "Enhancing Energy Transition through Sector Coupling: A Review of Technologies and Models," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-31, July.
    9. Deger Saygin & Herib Blanco & Francisco Boshell & Joseph Cordonnier & Kevin Rouwenhorst & Priyank Lathwal & Dolf Gielen, 2023. "Ammonia Production from Clean Hydrogen and the Implications for Global Natural Gas Demand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-28, January.

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