PARIS, FRANCE: Air Liquide, a global leader in industrial gases, and KBR, a global provider of engineering and technology solutions, have announced a partnership to offer fully integrated low-carbon ammonia solutions based on Autothermal Reforming (ATR) technology.

ATR is a process that converts natural gas or other hydrocarbons into hydrogen and carbon monoxide using oxygen and steam. Hydrogen can then be combined with nitrogen to produce ammonia, a key chemical for agriculture and industry.

The partnership will leverage Air Liquide’s expertise in ATR technology, which is one of the most suitable solutions for large-scale production of low-carbon hydrogen, and KBR’s mastery in ammonia production technology, which has been licensed, engineered, or constructed for over 250 plants worldwide. The solutions will also enable the capture of up to 99% of carbon emissions from the production process, when combined with carbon capture technology.

The partnership aims to meet the growing demand for low-carbon ammonia, which is projected to surpass 129 billion US dollars by 2030, according to Precedence Research. Low-carbon ammonia can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer use and industrial applications. It can also serve as a carrier for low-carbon hydrogen, which can be used to decarbonize various sectors such as mobility and power generation.

Michael J. Graff, Executive Vice President of Air Liquide Group, said: “Through this new offering, Air Liquide and KBR will combine their renowned respective expertise to provide efficient, reliable and competitive solutions for the production of ammonia and help the sector engage its low-carbon transition. These will enable customers to grow their business with an optimized carbon footprint, while also contributing to the development of the global hydrogen market.”

Doug Kelly, KBR President of Technology, said: “We are excited to align with Air Liquide to further expand KBR’s low-carbon ammonia offerings for energy transition. Our differentiated ammonia synthesis technology has been the preferred choice for decades, with complete solutions for low-carbon and renewable ammonia with large-scale capacity of up to 10,000 MTPD. The addition of Air Liquide’s ATR technology further complements our low-carbon ammonia offerings as we work to promote technology solutions to decarbonize the world.”

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