As an energy carrier that can be stored and transported, ammonia holds great potential for a climate-neutral energy supply; however, this alternative to fossil fuels has not yet been fully addressed in the legal framework. In a new study conducted as part of the TransHyDE project CAMPFIRE, IKEM examined the legal framework for various ammonia-utilization technologies and developed recommendations for action.
The current legal framework for energy supply has evolved over time and remains largely focused on fossil fuels. Alternative energy sources such as ammonia, on the other hand, are not fully taken into account. To enable its efficient use, the necessary technologies—from production through transport and storage to its use for energy or as a raw material—must be supported by a coherent and appropriate legal framework.
For the study, researchers at IKEM examined the current regulatory framework for selected ammonia technologies and identified barriers. They concluded that adjustments to the legal and permitting frameworks are necessary to establish ammonia as a renewable energy source. Study author Josefine Lyda explains:
“The study makes it clear that, particularly with regard to stationary infrastructure for the use of ammonia—such as combined heat and power plants or refueling stations—there are recurring legal issues that should be addressed through legislative changes aimed at simplifying the application of the law and expediting procedures. To this end, we have presented a roadmap in this study.”
The detailed roadmap includes the following nine recommendations for action:
- Designate infrastructure for green ammonia as a matter of overriding public interest
- Benefits apply only to ammonia from renewable sources
- Amend the requirements for permits for facilities that produce hydrogen through cracking processes
- Adapt Environmental Protection Regulations to Renewable Fuels
- Initiate CE Certification and Standardization for Ammonia Technologies
- To provide government agencies with the confidence to make decisions and project sponsors with planning certainty.
- Adapt Standardization and Legislation in Shipping to the State of the Art
- Enable special treatment in the outdoor areas of ammonia facilities
- Enable decentralized, stationary ammonia facilities in industrial parks
The study “Further Development of the Legal Framework for Ammonia Technologies” was conducted as part of the TransHyDE hydrogen flagship project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR), and was carried out within the CAMPFIRE subproject (CF 11.1).
