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Why Ammonia

Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier

There is a broad consensus in the literature that NH₃ is a preferable hydrogen carrier.

Ammonia enables hydrogen storage and transport in a more energy-efficient way compared to liquefied hydrogen, especially for long-term storage (weeks or months) and long-distance distribution.

While the electrolysis + Haber-Bosch route requires 57–68 MWh/tH₂ (compared to 35–48 MWh/tH₂ for electrolysis alone), this apparent disadvantage is offset when considering storage and transport:

  • Hydrogen storage (182 days): 38.5 MWh/tH₂
  • Liquid ammonia storage: 1.8 MWh/tH₂
  • Ammonia cracking: 6.6–10 MWh/tH₂

Overall, the Return on Energy Investment (ROEI) is higher for ammonia as an energy vector (up to 61%) compared to liquefied hydrogen (up to 45% for 182 days storage).

Existing infrastructure and lower logistics costs

A major advantage of ammonia is its existing global transport infrastructure, with industrial projects underway between regions such as Australia, Europe and Japan. 

Ammonia logistics cost less than liquefied hydrogen and require the lowest capital investment for a fixed hydrogen capacity.

Ammonia beyond fertilizers

Although most ammonia produced worldwide is currently used in fertilizers, the market is rapidly evolving.

The global ammonia market exceeds USD 200 billion and is growing steadily. Forecasts indicate that ammonia use as an energy carrier and hydrogen vector could push CAGR beyond 10%, provided that technological challenges are solved at industrial scale.

This positions ammonia as a key enabler of the hydrogen economy, extending far beyond its traditional fertilizer-only market.

Using ammonia: direct fuel or H₂ carrier

Ammonia can be used:

  • Directly as a fuel (energy carrier)
  • As a hydrogen carrier (H₂ vector), requiring selective ammonia cracking


Market analysis currently favors ammonia as a hydrogen carrier, particularly in the shipping sector.

Using ammonia directly as a fuel avoids cracking losses (~12%), but combustion produces NOx emissions, requiring additional treatment and infrastructure changes.

Moreover, hydrogen can be used in more efficient fuel cells, whereas ammonia is typically used in less-efficient thermal engines, and direct ammonia fuel cells still present technical challenges.

Ammonia offers a more energy-efficient solution than liquefied hydrogen for storage and long-distance hydrogen transport, supported by:

  • Existing global infrastructure
  • Lower logistics costs
  • Favorable return on energy investment
  • Strong market growth potential

For these reasons, ammonia is increasingly recognized as a strategic vector in the transition toward a net-zero hydrogen economy.