Ammonia as a hydrogen carrier: A comprehensive analysis of electrolysis efficiency and its potential in sustainable energy systems

Dinesh Kumar Madheswaran, S. Vengatesan, Selvaraj Jegadheeswaran, Mohanraj Thangamuthu, Hussein Togun, Boopathi Duraisamy, Chun Ouyang and M. Wasim Khan

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025, vol. 221, issue C

Abstract: Hydrogen has garnered considerable interest as a clean fuel alternative in the pursuit of sustainable energy generation. An attractive hydrogen carrier candidate is ammonia, thanks to its 17.6 wt% hydrogen concentration and its well-developed manufacturing and transportation networks. This review focuses on ammonia and its properties, benefits, and drawbacks as a possible hydrogen energy carrier. The key findings of this study demonstrate that ammonia electrolysis is a feasible and effective technique for producing hydrogen, coupled with energy efficiencies varying from 30 to 60 %, which outperforms conventional water electrolysis techniques. Ammonia electrolysis represents an exceptional potential in optimizing clean hydrogen generation, given that the standard ammonia electrolysis requires only 1.55 Wh.g−1 hydrogen, in contrast to the 33 Wh g−1 by the water electrolysis, which showcases a 95 % energy savings. In addition, ammonia-based energy systems are advantageous since they make use of the substantial $60 billion worldwide ammonia market, thereby rendering them attractive options for less expensive energy storage. Aside from its merits, the lack of an indigenous infrastructure source constitutes a constraint, given that its generation is contingent upon the direct interaction between nitrogen and hydrogen via the Haber-Bosch process. To fully exploit the energy-carrying capabilities of ammonia, it is also necessary to overcome technical obstacles including degradation of catalysts, sluggish kinetics, and toxicity effects caused by impurities in ammonia feedstock.

Keywords: Ammonia; Electrolysis; Fuel cell; Haber-Bosch process; Hydrogen (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2025.115915

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