Ammonia production has barely changed in 100 years. It still relies on the Haber-Bosch process, runs at extreme temperatures and pressures, and accounts for close to 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. But with ammonia now emerging as a leading candidate for zero-carbon maritime fuel and a hydrogen carrier for the energy transition, the pressure to decarbonise its production has never been greater.
In this episode, Dominic Shales speaks with Karen Baert, co-founder and CEO of San Francisco-based Ammobia, which is developing what it calls Haber-Bosch 2.0: a modular ammonia production technology that operates at ten times lower pressure and 150 degrees Celsius lower temperature than conventional facilities, cutting capital costs by up to half.
In January 2025, Ammobia closed a $7.5 million seed round backed by Shell Ventures, Air Liquide, Chevron Technology Ventures, and MOL Switch, the venture capital arm of Mitsui OSK Lines.
Karen and Dominic discuss why conventional ammonia has been so difficult to decarbonise, why cost matters more than carbon in today's market, how modular production close to end users changes the economics, and what the rapid growth of ammonia-fuelled shipping means for the industry's future.
Karen also reflects on her journey from Belgium to Stanford, co-founding Ammobia with Tristan Gilbert, and what it takes to commercialise deep industrial technology as a startup.
Karen Baert was named Women Scientist of the Year at the Women in Energy Transition Awards 2025 and won the Women in Cleantech and Sustainability Pitch Competition 2025. Ammobia was named a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer 2025, and its co-founders were recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 Manufacturing and Industry 2024.
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