Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for electrochemical ammonia production using proton conducting membrane
Abstract
Green ammonia production is facing increasing interest on a global scale as a hydrogen carrier for power generation as well as fertilizer for food production. The conventional Haber-Bosch method for ammonia synthesis is energy demanding, requires high purity hydrogen, and is based on fossil fuels. A preliminary techno-economic model for electrochemical ammonia synthesis at near ambient pressure using feed rates of 32 metric ton/day for hydrogen and 135 metric ton/day for nitrogen is presented in this study. Various pathways using different methods for nitrogen generation and hydrogen production were investigated to gain insight into added energy savings per metric ton of ammonia. Electrochemical synthesis using electrolysis for hydrogen and cryogenic nitrogen was found to be a potentially viable pathway for green ammonia. The profitability metrics including discounted cash flow rate of return, net present value and discounted payback period were estimated to be 8%, $40 MM, and 4–6 years respectively for this pathway. The cost of electricity, conversion rate, and conversion efficiency dominate the tonnage cost of ammonia and were used to assess the feasibility of the model. A life cycle assessment was also conducted to assess the environmental impact of a well to product ammonia process.
- Authors:
-
- Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1799125
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1579999
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AR0000949
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 45; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0360-3199
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 08 HYDROGEN; techno-economic modeling; ammonia economy; hydrogen economy; electrochemical ammonia synthesis
Citation Formats
Gomez, Jamie R., Baca, John, and Garzon, Fernando. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for electrochemical ammonia production using proton conducting membrane. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.174.
Gomez, Jamie R., Baca, John, & Garzon, Fernando. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for electrochemical ammonia production using proton conducting membrane. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.174
Gomez, Jamie R., Baca, John, and Garzon, Fernando. Thu .
"Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for electrochemical ammonia production using proton conducting membrane". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.174. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1799125.
@article{osti_1799125,
title = {Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for electrochemical ammonia production using proton conducting membrane},
author = {Gomez, Jamie R. and Baca, John and Garzon, Fernando},
abstractNote = {Green ammonia production is facing increasing interest on a global scale as a hydrogen carrier for power generation as well as fertilizer for food production. The conventional Haber-Bosch method for ammonia synthesis is energy demanding, requires high purity hydrogen, and is based on fossil fuels. A preliminary techno-economic model for electrochemical ammonia synthesis at near ambient pressure using feed rates of 32 metric ton/day for hydrogen and 135 metric ton/day for nitrogen is presented in this study. Various pathways using different methods for nitrogen generation and hydrogen production were investigated to gain insight into added energy savings per metric ton of ammonia. Electrochemical synthesis using electrolysis for hydrogen and cryogenic nitrogen was found to be a potentially viable pathway for green ammonia. The profitability metrics including discounted cash flow rate of return, net present value and discounted payback period were estimated to be 8%, $40 MM, and 4–6 years respectively for this pathway. The cost of electricity, conversion rate, and conversion efficiency dominate the tonnage cost of ammonia and were used to assess the feasibility of the model. A life cycle assessment was also conducted to assess the environmental impact of a well to product ammonia process.},
doi = {10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.10.174},
journal = {International Journal of Hydrogen Energy},
number = 1,
volume = 45,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Thu Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}
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