A dual-route ammonia process: Combining renewable and low-carbon pathways
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Ammonia is increasingly recognized as a versatile hydrogen carrier and energy vector with the potential to decarbonize industrial processes and global energy trade. Among the emerging production routes, blue ammonia—derived from natural gas with integrated carbon capture and storage (CCS)—offers a transitional pathway toward low-carbon energy systems. This work presents the development and assessment of a hybrid ammonia production scheme capable of generating both blue and green ammonia within a single flexible framework. The proposed configuration couples a conventional methane-based synthesis loop equipped with a high-efficiency CO2 capture system to a parallel renewable-driven synthesis loop, thereby enabling dynamic operation across fossil-based and renewable feedstocks. Process simulations demonstrate that, under a natural gas feed of 1,660 metric tons per day (MTPD), the hybrid plant achieves a fuel-to-feedstock ratio of approximately 49% and an overall CO2 capture efficiency of up to 98.5%. Captured CO2 is compressed to 60 bar, allowing downstream utilization for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) or export via pipeline infrastructure. Beyond process performance, the study highlights the potential role of hybrid ammonia in supporting large-scale decarbonization strategies, strengthening energy security, and bridging the technological gap between blue hydrogen and renewable hydrogen production. In particular, the approach aligns with ongoing energy transition initiatives such as Germany’s Energiewende while offering a scalable solution for global low-carbon fuel supply chains.
Source: Digital Chemical Engineering
Authors: Amin Soleimani Mehr, Günter Scheffknecht, Reihaneh Zohourian, Jörg Maier, Markus Reinmoeller
Institutions: University of Stuttgart, Energie Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
Language: English
Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,650
OpenAlex ID: W4417105519