As the International Maritime Organization's net-zero emissions target for shipping approaches, the shipping industry's demand for zero-carbon alternative fuels is shifting from policy-driven to global market demand. Green ammonia is becoming one of the best solutions for decarbonizing ocean shipping.
Green ammonia, the full name of green synthetic ammonia, can be prepared on a large scale relying on wind, light, water and air. The combustion process does not release carbon dioxide and achieves near-zero carbon emissions throughout its life cycle. It is one of the zero-carbon fuels with the best commercialization prospects in the deep decarbonization of ocean shipping.
Li Jingguang, head of China Energy Construction Hydrogen Energy Company: The difference between green ammonia and traditional ammonia lies in the carbon-free nature of the production process. Green ammonia essentially transforms wind and solar power, which is volatile and difficult to store, into a green energy carrier with stable properties and a mature storage and transportation system. It is a key bridge between renewable energy and "hard-to-abate areas" and is the main fuel for the decarbonization of ocean shipping.
In terms of storage and transportation, compared with green hydrogen, green ammonia does not need to rely on extremely low-temperature environments. It can be liquefied under normal temperature pressurization or moderate cooling conditions. At the same time, it has a high volumetric energy density, can adapt to the existing storage and transportation system, and is more in line with the fuel supply needs of ocean shipping. From the perspective of application scenarios, green ammonia can be directly used as ship power fuel, and can also be used for combustion in power generation and green fertilizer production.
my country is rich in wind and solar resources, and the industrial chain of green electricity hydrogen production and green ammonia synthesis is gradually taking shape, laying an industrial foundation for the large-scale application of green ammonia. At present, my country's green synthetic ammonia production capacity ranks first in the world. The world's largest monomer green ammonia device and the world's largest green hydrogen ammonia alcohol integration project have been completed and put into operation.
According to estimates, by 2040, the global shipping industry's annual demand for green ammonia is expected to reach 100 million tons, indicating broad space for industrial development.
my country's green ammonia supply capacity ranks first in the world
Since the beginning of this year, my country has accelerated the cultivation of new growth points for green fuels, the industry has made phased progress, the scale of production capacity has steadily increased, and the supply capacity of green synthetic ammonia ranks first in the world.
Green fuel is represented by green methanol, green synthetic ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, etc., and its entire life cycle meets the requirements of ecological environmental protection and has low carbon emissions.
my country has abundant reserves of renewable resources such as wind energy, solar energy, and biomass, and has a good foundation for the large-scale development of the green fuel industry. In recent years, the development of my country's green fuel industry has accelerated, and breakthroughs have been achieved in advanced off-grid water electrolysis hydrogen production, flexible green ammonia synthesis, pure oxygen fluidized bed biomass gasification and other process technologies and equipment with independent intellectual property rights. The application technology level of green fuel in key fields such as shipping, aviation, and land transportation is increasing day by day. The technology related to green aviation fuel blending and filling has matured. Marine ammonia fuel low-speed engines have carried out multiple rounds of commercial verification. Thermal power applications such as coal-fired ammonia-mixed and ammonia gas turbines have also completed industrialization pilots.
The scale of my country's green fuel production capacity has steadily increased. By the end of 2025, my country has built a total green fuel production capacity of approximately 8 million tons/year of oil equivalent, of which the green synthetic ammonia production capacity has reached 700,000 tons/year, accounting for 79.5% of the world, and its supply capacity ranks first in the world. It is predicted that global green fuel demand will reach approximately 10 million tons of oil equivalent by 2030, and will exceed 100 million tons of oil equivalent by 2050. There is broad room for industrial development.
