ABSTRACT
Green ammonia production could contribute to decarbonization and the decentralization of fertilizer production, but it brings critical challenges and risks. Assessing and addressing these challenges in real time will help advance technology and avoid unintended consequences.
Synthetic ammonia production by the Haber–Bosch process revolutionized agriculture by making relatively inexpensive nitrogen (N) fertilizer widely available and enabling a rise in global food production. The Haber–Bosch process relies on fossil fuels (known as grey ammonia production) and emits more than 450 Mt of CO2 annually. Green ammonia, which is produced using renewable energy, offers a pathway to decouple ammonia production from fossil fuels and reduce CO2 emissions. As a carbon-free fuel, green ammonia could partially replace fossil fuels to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as maritime shipping. However, the widespread use of green ammonia could have complex environmental and social consequences, as it threatens to add reactive N into the biosphere and could disrupt fertilizer markets. In this Comment, we identify opportunities, barriers and open questions related to green ammonia production and usage as a fertilizer and beyond. We then recommend research priorities to avoid unforeseen consequences through research, monitoring and adaptation in real time.