AN EU-funded study reveals that the shipping sector's demand for clean ammonia as a fuel will skyrocket between 2030 and 2050, with blue hydrogen, derived from fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, emerging as the dominant source by mid-century, reports London's Hydrogeninsight.

According to the study conducted by DNV analysts, titled "Availability of Green and Blue Ammonia in 2030 to 2050," demand for either green or blue ammonia as a maritime fuel will surge from 2.3 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in 2030 to 62 MTPA in 2040 and 245 MTPA in 2050.

Blue ammonia is projected to account for 76 per cent of this clean ammonia demand by 2050, exceeding the 24 per cent produced from green hydrogen, which is generated using renewable-powered water electrolysis, by more than threefold.

Furthermore, the study indicates that an additional 200 MTPA of ammonia will be needed by 2050 as a feedstock for various sectors like chemicals, including fertilizers and explosives.

In these industries, the primary source of ammonia would be grey hydrogen derived from unabated fossil fuels (39 per cent), followed by blue (35 per cent), and green (26 per cent).