Select your language

Scientists find new way to calculate environmental impact on ammonia production

Amoniaco

United States. A group of researchers were able to model how much it would cost to use greener methods that emit less carbon to produce ammonia. These scientists are part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.

Ammonia is mainly produced by reforming natural gas, a process that contributes to atmospheric emissions of both carbon dioxide and methane. "The ultimate goal is to use renewable or nuclear energy and clean hydrogen to produce it," said Argonne senior scientist Amgad Elgowainy.

Elgowainy and his colleagues used Argonne's greenhouse gas, regulated emissions and energy use in technologies (GREET®) model to estimate the environmental impact of ammonia production from various energy sources. They then used a techno-economic model to analyze the cost of two different ways to produce ammonia more sustainably.

The first way avoids part of the carbon release by capturing a certain percentage of the carbon produced and then storing it in geological formations. This technological pathway can be implemented at a relatively low cost, since the total cost to produce ammonia increases only about 20%.

- Publicidad -

In the other near-zero carbon pathway, water is electrolyzed to produce hydrogen, which then combines with nitrogen to produce ammonia. "Using renewable or nuclear energy to split water through electrolysis gives us a way to produce ammonia with almost no carbon impact," Elgowainy said. "That said, the cost of doing so is currently higher than the carbon capture pathway."

According to Elgowainy, there is significant scope for cost reduction of electrolysis technology that could eventually make the water electrolysis route more cost-competitive. "Research in this area could end up changing the market significantly, but it will require investment to develop and expand the production of electrolysis technologies," he said. "With cost reduction and efficiency improvements to meet the DOE's goal of $1/kg of clean hydrogen, the electrolysis pathway could enable an affordable, near-carbon-free way to produce ammonia."

A paper based on the study, "Techno-economic performance and life-cycle GHG emissions from various ammonia production pathways, including conventional, carbon capture, nuclear, and renewable energy production," appeared in the May 13 issue of Green Chemistry.

In addition to Elgowainy, other authors include Kyuha Lee of Argonne, Xinyu Liu, Pradeep Vyawahare, Pingping Sun, and Michael Wang.

The work was funded by the DOE's Advanced Research Projects Agency's MARINER Energy program.

Duván Chaverra Agudelo
Duván Chaverra AgudeloEmail: [email protected]
Jefe Editorial de las revistas AVI Latinoamérica, ACR Latinoamérica, Ventas de Seguridad, Zona de Pinturas, Aftermarket Internation, Gerencia de Edificios, TV y Video, y Director Académico en Latin Press, Inc,.
Comunicador Social y Periodista con experiencia de más de 18 años en medios de comunicación. Apasionado por la tecnología y por esta industria.

No comments

• If you're already registered, please log in first. Your email will not be published.

Leave your comment

In reply to Some User
Technology, efficiency and innovation at the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress 2025

Technology, efficiency and innovation at the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress 2025

International. As a prelude to the Refriaméricas 2025Academic Congress, the Virtual HVAC Pre-Congress will be held on July 8, a free technical conference that will bring together experts and leading...

Chile leads with a gender focus in regional meeting on the Montreal Protocol

Chile leads with a gender focus in regional meeting on the Montreal Protocol

Costa Rica. Within the framework of the Meeting of Networks of National Ozone Officers of Latin America, held from June 17 to 19 and organized by the United Nations Environment Program, Chile stood...

ASHRAE Launches 2025–2028 Strategic Plan to Accelerate the Transformation of Healthy and Sustainable Buildings Globally

ASHRAE Launches 2025–2028 Strategic Plan to Accelerate the Transformation of Healthy and Sustainable Buildings Globally

United States. ASHRAE officially unveiled its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, with the goal of driving a healthier, more sustainable, and resilient built environment. The roadmap focuses on global...

U.S. Senate Approves Bill Eliminating Key Tax Incentives for HVAC

U.S. Senate Approves Bill Eliminating Key Tax Incentives for HVAC

United States. The U.S. Senate on Monday night approved a controversial bill that eliminates four tax incentives widely used by the HVAC industry, bringing them closer to disappearing as of 2026.

CALA Awards 2025 finalists announced for best HVAC/R installation in Latin America

CALA Awards 2025 finalists announced for best HVAC/R installation in Latin America

International. The most innovative and sustainable projects in air conditioning and refrigeration have been selected as finalists for the CALA Awards 2025, the most important award in the HVAC/R...

World Refrigeration Day: essential technology for modern life and sustainable development

World Refrigeration Day: essential technology for modern life and sustainable development

International. Every June 26, World Refrigeration Day is commemorated, a date that seeks to recognize the fundamental role that this technology plays in health, food, comfort and the global economy,...

Midea Celebrates its HVAC Latin America 2025 Partner Summit and Presents Roadmap to Lead the Sector in the Region

Midea Celebrates its HVAC Latin America 2025 Partner Summit and Presents Roadmap to Lead the Sector in the Region

Brazil. With the participation of 170 representatives from 18 countries, Midea held the second edition of its HVAC Latin America Partner Summit at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in São Paulo. The event...

RefriAméricas 2025: the academic program is available and the registration discount is in force

RefriAméricas 2025: the academic program is available and the registration discount is in force

Dominican Republic. A little more than a month after its implementation, RefriAméricas 2025 continues to advance in its agenda. The event, which will be held on July 23 and 24 in Santo Domingo,...

New Board of Directors to Lead ADOMTRA for 2025-2027

New Board of Directors to Lead ADOMTRA for 2025-2027

Dominican Republic. The Dominican Association of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technicians announced the formation of its new Board of Directors for the period 2025-2027, elected during the...

Bogota to host key building automation event in Latin America

Bogota to host key building automation event in Latin America

Colombia. On July 11, the Tequendama Suites Hotel will be the meeting point for leaders in the technology sector with the Building Automation Days by KNX LATAM Colombia, an event that will bring...

Free Subscription
Remember Me
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
DO YOU NEED A SERVICE OR PRODUCT QUOTE?
LASTEST INTERVIEWS
SITE SPONSORS










LASTEST NEWSLETTER
Ultimo Info-Boletin