Johnson Matthey (JM) and thyssenkrupp Uhde, a leading provider for engineering, construction, and service of chemical plants, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to offer jointly a fully integrated low carbon (blue) ammonia solution, building on a nearly 25-year ammonia relationship between the companies.

In the drive to reduce CO₂ emissions, the role of ammonia has expanded from a vital ingredient used to produce fertilizer for the agricultural sector, to a decarbonized carrier and supplier of hydrogen energy that’s easier to store and transport than pure hydrogen. The movement of low-carbon ammonia can utilise existing infrastructure making it a leading energy transition solution that’s ready to capture, store, and ship vast quantities of hydrogen for use in the power and shipping sector, and industrial value chains globally.

By joining forces thyssenkrupp Uhde and JM can access the blue ammonia market together offering proven technologies combining the uhde ammonia process and JM’s hydrogen expertise through its LCH technology, which will enable the production of blue ammonia with up to 99% CO₂ capture.

thyssenkrupp Uhde has licensed, engineered, or constructed more than 130 ammonia plants worldwide since 1928 and is market leading in plants greater than 3,000 metric tonnes per day with its unique uhde® dual pressure technology. JM’s LCH technology, which utilizes JM’s autothermal reformer alone, or in conjunction with JM’s gas heated reformer, has been selected for several of the world’s first large-scale blue hydrogen projects including bp’s H2Teesside, a 700-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production plant, and the H2H Saltend project with Equinor and Linde for a 600-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production plant.

Global demand for ammonia is estimated to increase to more than 600 million metric tonnes by 2050 due to the new demands from shipping and power generation markets. Low-carbon ammonia is predicted to meet two-thirds of the demand by 2050 with many countries around the world setting decarbonization targets. This could mean an estimated market size for low-carbon ammonia of more than $200 billion by 2050.