Ammonia demand seen pivoting to energy

Power generation and maritime sector offtake expected to eclipse fertiliser industry demand by 2040, according to producers

New applications for low-carbon ammonia as a fuel in the power generation and maritime sectors could overtake usage in the fertiliser sector by 2040, according to speakers on a recent Reuters Events webinar. Roughly 80% of ammonia demand comes from the fertiliser sector. However, recent testing of co-firing of ammonia in coal power plants and 100% ammonia-firing in gas turbines suggest power generation could become the largest ammonia consumer, followed by the maritime sector, said Akshay Bhardwaj, head of commercial business development, global ammonia, at fertilisers and chemicals producer OCI Global. “We are clear that fertilisers might not be the biggest end-use by 2040. [Demand] has to