CARICOM discussion explores green ammonia’s role in island energy security

Photo: Aerial view of a U.S. farm solar array, August 2024. Illustrative file photograph, not a Caribbean ammonia facility. USDA / David Kosling, public domain.

Green ammonia could offer Caribbean economies another route towards cleaner energy and lower-carbon fertiliser production, according to a discussion highlighted by CARICOM during its annual Energy Month.

The November 5 webinar examined the technology’s potential for small-island and coastal economies. CARICOM published its account the following day.

Unlike conventional production pathways, green ammonia uses renewable electricity in the process of producing hydrogen. Solar and wind power can therefore play a role in reducing emissions associated with ammonia manufacture.

The discussion considered applications beyond energy supply, including the production of fertilisers with a smaller carbon footprint.

Presenter Dr. Soren Malone, an energy and infrastructure specialist, linked the discussion to geopolitical and trade pressures affecting energy markets and fertiliser imports.

The announcement describes an exploration of possible development pathways, not approval of a Caribbean production plant or an investment commitment.

Potential uses outlined in the webinar should not be mistaken for projects already financed or operating. CARICOM has made the recorded discussion available alongside its published summary.

Source: CARICOM’s November 6 account.