Electric vehicles have become synonymous with visions of smart mobility, and authorities in the Middle East are chalking out policies to support adoption of e-cars in emerging megacities. But a complete electrification of the roads will still take a while, and till then clean alternatives that can cut down emissions, will act as tools to tackle climate change.

Two major oil producers UAE and Saudi Arabia have already initiated clean fuel generation, by splitting water via electricity, to extract green hydrogen for domestic use as well as exports. To join its neighbouring kingdom on the eco-friendly gas-driven bandwagon, the Emirates has started setting up its first facility to create blue ammonia and also has plans to produce its green counterpart.

Thanks to a collaboration between Abu Dhabi's oil firm ADNOC and local company Fertiglobe, blue ammonia will be produced by separating hydrocarbons from emissions when fossil fuels are burnt. Much like generation of green hydrogen, where molecules of water are separated, production of blue ammonia is completed by splitting hydrocarbons into ammonia and hydrogen.

Even though blue ammonia may be a clean fuel, its extraction requires precision in capturing carbon emissions, and that's why green ammonia is a more environment friendly option. The production of green ammonia also involves electrolysis, but here the hydrogen removed from water is then introduced to nitrogen captured from air.

When these two are pushed into a chamber and subjected to high pressure along with extreme temperatures, the reaction gives out green ammonia. This green version doesn't release any carbon when it's burnt, as opposed to blue ammonia which does lead to limited emissions.

An initiative for mass production of green ammonia has been announced by the Khalifa Industrial Zone in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi.

The facilities will maintain high standards of sustainability, as solar energy will be used to power operations at the plants.

Similar efforts to generate green hydrogen have also encouraged Abu Dhabi's state-owned energy firm to sign pacts with Japanese and South Korean entities for exports.