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Blue vs. Green: A comparative analysis of ammonia production and export in Western Canada and Australia

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  • Palandri, Julian
  • Rahmanifard, Hamid
  • Layzell, David
  • Hastings-Simon, Sara

Abstract

In a net-zero future, the global trade of traditional hydrocarbons will decline, increasingly replaced with the international transport of energy carriers that generate no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Ammonia is a zero-emission energy carrier that could play a significant role in providing energy to countries like Japan, which are challenged to meet their own energy demands. Canada and Australia are among the nations that have the potential to produce cost effective low GHG ammonia for export. Emission free electricity from Australia’s solar and wind resources could be used to produce ‘green’ ammonia. In Canada, natural gas could be reformed to ‘blue’ ammonia if the byproduct CO2 is captured and sequestered. This study uses techno-economic tools to compare the cost of ammonia production and transport to Japan from either Canada or Australia in 2020, 2030 and 2050.

Suggested Citation

  • Palandri, Julian & Rahmanifard, Hamid & Layzell, David & Hastings-Simon, Sara, 2025. "Blue vs. Green: A comparative analysis of ammonia production and export in Western Canada and Australia," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:239:y:2025:i:c:s0960148124020214
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2024.121953
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    References listed on IDEAS

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