The world’s first shipment of blue ammonia is on its way from Saudi Arabia to Japan, where it will be used in power stations to produce electricity without carbon emissions.
Saudi Aramco, has produced this fuel, which it done by converting hydrocarbons into hydrogen and then ammonia, and capturing the carbon dioxide byproduct.
Ammonia can be burned in thermal power stations without releasing carbon emissions. That means it has “the potential to make a significant contribution to an affordable and reliable low-carbon energy future,” according to state-controlled Aramco.
Blue ammonia is a feedstock for blue hydrogen, a version of the fuel made from fossil fuels with a process that captures and stores C02 emissions.
Hydrogen from renewable energy that creates no emissions is known as green hydrogen.
Japan will receive 40 tons of blue ammonia in the first shipment. The country aims to be a world-leader in the use of hydrogen, which is contained in ammonia.
They have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 26% by 2030 from 2013 levels, under the Paris climate pact.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, is increasingly trying to counter its reputation for producing dirty energy. To this effect, U.S. firm Air Products & Chemicals Inc. signed an accord in July with Saudi-based ACWA Power International and the kingdom’s planned futuristic city of Neom to develop a $5 billion hydrogen-based ammonia plant powered by renewable energy.
Reference- BloombergQuit, The Print, Saudi Aramco Online Newsroom, Japan News