# Ammonia: the beer of decarbonization

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-01-05
- Length: 52m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization

## Summary

Julio Friedmann, chief scientist at Carbon Direct, explains why low-carbon ammonia is critical for decarbonizing shipping, power generation, and heavy industry, particularly in Japan, Korea, and Singapore. He details the Haber-Bosch process, noting that current production accounts for 2% of global emissions, and discusses the technical challenges of co-firing ammonia in coal and gas plants. Friedmann highlights that while ammonia offers storage and transport advantages similar to propane, its toxicity, corrosiveness, and the need for specialized infrastructure like bunkering facilities pose significant hurdles. The conversation emphasizes that human capital shortages and the lack of existing ammonia-specific infrastructure, rather than technology alone, are the primary constraints to scaling.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=2) Introduction: Ammonia as a decarbonization fuel
- [4:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=267) The current ammonia market and Haber-Bosch process
- [12:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=770) Decarbonizing ammonia production: CCS vs. green hydrogen
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=1104) Ammonia for power generation and co-firing
- [25:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=1515) Maritime shipping: Ammonia vs. methanol
- [31:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=1866) Heavy industry applications: Steel and cement
- [35:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=2101) Safety, toxicity, and environmental risks
- [43:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=2582) Constraints: Human capital and infrastructure
- [46:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization#t=2818) Future innovation: Photocatalysis and modular production

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Carbon Direct (company)
- Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (other)
- Haber-Bosch process (other)
- Kellogg Brown and Root (company)
- Nitricity (company)
- Sisyji (company)
- Mares (company)
- Costco (company)
- Swire (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [167. How Hydrogen Will Replace Batteries](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-03-26-167-how-hydrogen-will-replace-batteries) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [The Future of Clean Shipping: How Methanol Fuel Cells Are Decarbonising Maritime Transport](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-10-30-the-future-of-clean-shipping-how-methanol-fuel-cells-are-decarbonising-maritime) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-01-05-ammonia-the-beer-of-decarbonization. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.