Hydrogen has been the subject of a lot of research lately and for good reason. The potential of hydrogen as a green fuel is enormous. For example, a shipping fuels market that is fuelled by hydrogen would be an enormous step towards decarbonising the industry.
So, what exactly is the difference between green hydrogen and green ammonia? What are the pros and cons? What are the hurdles to overcome with each? Is it possible to use both today and in the future? Most importantly, which of them will become the recognised leader in decarbonisation?
Green hydrogen
Hydrogen is clean, renewable, low emission and safe to use.
Clean: Hydrogen does not produce any harmful emissions when burned which makes it one of the most environmentally friendly fuels available today.
Renewable: You can extract hydrogen from water by electrolysing it (splitting into hydrogen and oxygen). This process requires electricity so in order to make it ‘green’ the power must be from renewable sources. In most cases, solar is used to generate power for this process.
Green ammonia
There are two forms of green hydrogen that are being discussed at the moment, although one is more widely considered than the other. Green ammonia is a much more practical option, as it can be produced and stored more easily than green hydrogen. It also costs less because it doesn’t require expensive processes to produce it.
Green ammonia is a liquid fuel that can be used in existing internal combustion engines. It’s also renewable and produced using a process called hydrogenation.
Green hydrogen and green ammonia are both produced by a process called “electrolysis of water.” This is the same way that scientists have been able to split water into its basic oxygen and hydrogen components for years, but what makes it “green” is the method used to separate them. In this case, electrolysis occurs using electricity generated from renewable energy sources like wind turbines or solar panels.
Sustainable alternatives
Both green hydrogen and green ammonia are sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. They can be produced from renewable sources, such as water and natural gas, without producing greenhouse gases or other pollutants. However, there are some key differences between the two:
Green ammonia is a liquid at -34oc, while green hydrogen is a gas. This means that it’s easier to store and transport energy in gaseous form than it is in liquid form.
Green ammonia requires less processing than green hydrogen does before it can be used as fuel; however, this process can produce more waste products.
As you can see, both green ammonia and green hydrogen are possible today. The main difference is that green ammonia is more efficient than green hydrogen, but it also costs more.
In conclusion, it is important to consider which of them will become the recognised leader in decarbonisation. Green hydrogen can be produced from renewable sources such as wind or solar power, but it requires significant investment in infrastructure and technology. Green ammonia is a more mature technology that can be implemented quickly with a lower initial cost than green hydrogen production.
