Thought Leadership

By Elena Stylianou 

In today’s evolving energy landscape, the need for practical, phased, and economically sound decarbonization pathways has never been greater. KBR stands at the forefront of this shift, reimagining traditional technologies to meet the demands of a low-carbon future.

Leveraging decades of expertise in steam methane reformer (SMR) technology, KBR offers a suite of innovative solutions that begin with affordable, conventional hydrogen and ammonia production, yet are engineered to evolve towards sustainability. This ability to start economically and transition seamlessly to low-carbon production highlights how innovation within proven platforms can deliver both near-term value and long-term sustainability.

KBR has been pioneering SMR technology for more than 80 years. Proven reforming technology solutions, like the down-fired SMR and reforming exchanger (KRESTM), are ideally suited to transitioning economically to low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia production at scale. 

Market Demand and Supply  
Ammonia is poised to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition—serving not only as a vital agricultural input but increasingly as a low-carbon energy carrier and hydrogen vector. According to [1] ChemAnalyst , global ammonia demand is projected to reach approximately 258 million metric tons by 2035, driven by traditional fertilizer applications as well as emerging uses in clean fuel, power generation, and maritime transport. 

Furthermore, the [2] International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates  that ammonia production will need to increase by nearly 40% by 2050 to meet both agricultural needs and the demands of a decarbonized energy system.

Meeting this growing demand will require a significant transformation of existing ammonia production infrastructure to reduce carbon intensity. This includes the integration of low-carbon hydrogen, renewable energy, and carbon capture technologies into traditional ammonia synthesis pathways.

KBR, a global leader in ammonia technology, is uniquely positioned to support this transition. With over 50% of the world's licensed ammonia production capacity utilizing KBR’s technologies, the company continues to innovate and deploy next-generation solutions that enable more sustainable and energy-efficient ammonia production.

KBR Technologies for Phased Energy Transition

• H2KPlus™ – A scalable, efficient, and proven SMR-based hydrogen production technology, offering high-purity hydrogen production with low capital investment and built-in flexibility for future carbon capture integration.
   
• PurifierPlus™ – KBR’s world-scale, high-efficiency ammonia technology. Enables cost-effective grey ammonia production today, able to seamlessly evolve into low-carbon production through future carbon capture upgrades

KBR’s technologies offer a smart, future-ready starting point – delivering low-CAPEX solutions for grey ammonia or hydrogen production designed to meet current demands while enabling future sustainability goals. With proven reliability and a compelling economic case, producers can act now without waiting for the perfect policy or market conditions.

The blue-ready designs start at just 75% of the total CAPEX for a fully blue facility, with a clear, phased pathway to near-zero emissions:
1.    Step 1 – Process CO₂ Capture (CAPEX: ~85%)
Add CO₂ compression and purification to capture 70-80% of process emissions.
Carbon intensity < 3 kg CO₂e/kg H₂ — compliant with many global low-carbon standards (e.g., IRA 45Q). 

2.    Step 2 – Flue Gas CO₂ Capture (Capex: ~100%)
Integrate post-combustion capture to raise total CO₂ capture to >99%.
Carbon intensity < 0.1 kg CO₂e/kg H₂ — qualifying under all international low-carbon hydrogen frameworks.

Crucially, the initial design includes space and interconnections for these add-ons, minimizing future retrofit costs and operational disruption.

A Completely Commercialized Solution
KBR’s SMR technologies are at technology readiness level 9 – fully commercial, fully deployed, and fully ready to lead. They embody a flexible, cost-effective path from today’s economic realities to tomorrow’s decarbonized world.
With minimal retrofit requirements and a proven, low-risk approach, KBR offers a commercially attractive path to decarbonization –   starting today.

KBR’s clean ammonia and hydrogen solutions are built to enable the future – step by step, from affordable to sustainable.

References

1. https://www.chemanalyst.com/industry-report/ammonia-market-631
2. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/6ee41bb9-8e81-4b64-8701-2acc064ff6e4/AmmoniaTechnologyRoadmap.pdf