U.S. ammonia production is growing and becoming less carbon-intensive.
Used primarily as a fertilizer but gaining more purposes in various industries, ammonia is now being produced at 32 plants in 17 states. Production increased since 2015, growing by 46%, with growth in the domestic output outpacing growth in demand — leading to a decrease in imported ammonia reliance for the U.S - from 40% in 2010 to 13% in 2020.
Ammonia from natural gas is the primary source of U.S. ammonia production, accounting for 6.5% of all U.S. industrial natural gas consumption in 2020 (approximately 1.5 bcf/d). To avoid carbon emissions altogether, a plant must keep using ammonia or use hydrogen produced by water's electrolysis using renewable-generated electricity.
By 2023, the new plants are estimated to produce 20,000 mt/y of ammonia using hydrogen produced by water's electrolysis using renewable-generated electricity.
Sources: eia.gov