Technology tracker

Ammonia technology readiness

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessments for the key technologies in the green ammonia value chain, from electrolysers and synthesis to cracking, fuel cells, and marine engines. Updated quarterly.

TRL 1, 3: Research
TRL 4, 6: Demonstration
TRL 7, 8: Pre-commercial
TRL 9: Commercial
Synthesis & production
Alkaline electrolysis (ALK)
Green H₂ production, large scale
9
TRL / 9
Mature commercial technology. Large-scale alkaline electrolysers are the dominant pathway for green hydrogen at scale today. Capex declining rapidly with scale.
Cost: $400, 800/kW
Efficiency: 63, 71%
Scale: Up to 100+ MW
Nel ASAThyssenKrupp UhdeCumminsJohn Cockerill
PEM electrolysis
Green H₂, high purity, fast response
8
TRL / 9
Commercial at small-to-mid scale. Better suited to intermittent renewable coupling than ALK. Higher capex but faster response time and higher pressure output.
Cost: $700, 1400/kW
Efficiency: 67, 74%
Scale: Up to 20 MW modules
ITM PowerSiemens EnergyPlug PowerCummins
Haber-Bosch synthesis (green)
NH₃ synthesis from green H₂
9
TRL / 9
The Haber-Bosch process itself is fully commercial, over 100 years of operation. The challenge is coupling it cost-effectively with intermittent renewable H₂ supply, which requires oversized synthesis loops or H₂ storage buffers.
Conditions: ~450°C / 200 bar
Catalyst: Iron (Fe)
Haldor TopsoeKBRThyssenKrupp UhdeCasale
SOEC electrolysis
Solid oxide, highest efficiency
6
TRL / 9
Highest theoretical efficiency (~85%) but requires high operating temperature (~800°C). Currently at demonstration scale, significant potential if cost and durability challenges are solved. Best suited to coupling with industrial waste heat.
Efficiency: ~80, 85%
Challenge: Durability at temp
Haldor TopsoeSunfireBloom Energy
Cracking & reconversion
Catalytic ammonia cracking
NH₃ → H₂ + N₂ thermal route
7
TRL / 9
Pre-commercial. The dominant cracking pathway, thermally decomposing ammonia over a catalyst (typically ruthenium or nickel). Large-scale demonstration plants operating. Key challenge: achieving 85%+ H₂ yield at commercial scale to make import economics work.
Current yield: 70, 80%
Target yield: 85%+
Temp: 400, 600°C
ThyssenKrupp UhdeHaldor TopsoeAir LiquideKBR
Plasma cracking
Non-thermal plasma decomposition
4
TRL / 9
Early demonstration. Non-thermal plasma can crack ammonia at ambient temperature, avoiding the energy penalty of heating to 400, 600°C. High energy input per unit currently limits economics, but promising for small-scale or distributed applications.
Advantage: Ambient temp
Challenge: Energy per kg H₂
Syzygy PlasmonicsEindhoven Univ.DIFFER
Electrochemical cracking
Electrolytic NH₃ decomposition
3
TRL / 9
Research stage. Direct electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to produce hydrogen without combustion. Very low technology maturity but theoretically attractive due to low temperature operation and potential for co-generation of nitrogen fertiliser.
Status: Lab / pilot
Timeline: 2030+
Monash UniversityKAUSTVarious academic
Membrane reactor cracking
H₂-selective membrane + catalyst
5
TRL / 9
Pilot scale. Combining a palladium membrane with catalytic cracking allows continuous removal of H₂ product, driving conversion efficiency above equilibrium limits. Potentially higher yield than conventional catalytic cracking but membrane cost and durability remain challenges.
Potential yield: 90%+
Challenge: Pd membrane cost
Haldor TopsoeJohnson MattheyOsaka Univ.
End use, power & marine
Direct ammonia combustion, marine two-stroke
Ship propulsion, MAN B&W / Wärtsilä
8
TRL / 9
Near-commercial. MAN B&W two-stroke ammonia engines are at sea-trial stage with first commercial vessels delivering 2024, 25. Key challenge is NOx emissions management, ammonia combustion produces significant N₂O/NOx requiring advanced after-treatment.
Vessels ordered: 80+
First delivery: 2024, 25
MAN Energy SolutionsWärtsiläWinGD
Ammonia co-firing, power generation
Blending with coal / gas in power plants
8
TRL / 9
Commercial in Japan. JERA Hekinan plant co-firing at 20% ammonia blend with coal, first utility-scale commercial operation globally. Japan's national strategy targets 20% co-firing across all coal plants by 2030. NOx management and corrosion remain engineering challenges.
Lead market: Japan / South Korea
Blend: 20% target
JERAIHI CorporationMitsubishi Power
Direct ammonia SOFC
Solid oxide fuel cell, no cracking step
5
TRL / 9
Pilot scale. SOFCs can internally crack ammonia at their operating temperature (~700, 800°C) and directly use the hydrogen for power generation, eliminating a separate cracking step. Potentially highest-efficiency end-use pathway. Durability and scale-up are primary barriers.
Efficiency: ~60, 70% electrical
Advantage: No external cracker
AFC EnergyBloom EnergyHaldor TopsoePOSCO Energy
Ammonia gas turbines
Combustion turbine, power generation
6
TRL / 9
Demonstration scale. Gas turbines modified for ammonia combustion have been demonstrated at MW scale in Japan. Lower NOx challenge than coal co-firing due to higher combustion temperatures. Mitsubishi Power targeting commercial scale by 2025, 2027.
Lead developer: Mitsubishi Power
Commercial: ~2027
Mitsubishi PowerIHIJAXA
Comparison overview

Technology comparison at a glance

TechnologyTRLCommercial byKey challengeCost trend
Alkaline electrolysisTRL 9NowCapex reduction at scale↓ Rapid decline
PEM electrolysisTRL 8NowPlatinum group metal supply↓ Declining
Green Haber-BoschTRL 9NowH₂ buffering for intermittent RE→ Stable
Catalytic crackingTRL 72026, 27Yield efficiency (>85%)↓ Declining
Ammonia marine engineTRL 82024, 25NOx after-treatment→ Stable
NH₃ co-firing (power)TRL 8Now (Japan)Supply chain / logistics→ Stable
Membrane reactor crackingTRL 52028, 30Pd membrane cost & durability↓ Early stage
Direct NH₃ SOFCTRL 52028, 30Durability at high temp↓ Early stage
NH₃ gas turbinesTRL 62027NOx at full load↓ Declining
Plasma crackingTRL 42030+Energy efficiencyUnknown
SOEC electrolysisTRL 62028+Durability at 800°C↓ Early stage
Electrochemical crackingTRL 32035+Fundamentally unproven at scaleUnknown

All data on this page is compiled from publicly available sources including developer announcements, government publications, the publicly available information, regulatory filings, and press releases. The Ammonia Observatory does not hold proprietary data. Figures are the best available estimates as of April 2026. We welcome corrections at [email protected].