How does ammonia cracking work?

Hydrogen is a critical part of the energy transition as it can provide energy for hard-to-electrify sectors such as long-haul transport, chemicals, iron and steel, refining, marine fuel and power generation, trucking, and power generation. The Hydrogen Council estimates that hydrogen could meet 18% of global energy demand by 2050. #Ammonia is an ideal carrier of hydrogen as it is much easier to compress and transport. When shipped, after arriving at its destination, the ammonia needs to be decomposed, or “cracked,” into hydrogen, before use in the energy value chain. Watch here how the ammonia cracking process works.

[Greenammonianews]

Here is a dumb question. Why crack ammonia? Looking around I find VERY little need for H2. If the end goal is green energy why not simply use ammonia as a green fuel?

Honestly, I've read 3 studies this week that ASSUME in all their energy and finance calculations that we want hydrogen. This objective function is never explained.

For reasons of energy density, metal embrittlement, etc. I think we really want ammonia. Ammonia fuel to replace diesel, gas-fire energy plants, etc.

- IF you crack ammonia you are throwing away the energy in the nitrogen hydrogen bonds and investing in equipment to do it
- Then to compress/cool hydrogen to a liquid you lose 40% of the remaining energy
- Finally, hydrogen boils off very very fast, the remaining energy disappears in days or weeks...

There are some industrial uses for hydrogen but that's not really what we are talking about right? The mission is 18% of global energy demand.

[matthat]

is there not a green way to produce and convert ammonia to hydrogen and back don't bacteria or plants do it ?