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Article

Decarbonizing existing, SMR-based ammonia plants: workshop recap

Kevin Rouwenhorst November 26, 2023

Decarbonization of existing steam methane reforming-based ammonia plants is possible, and changes in gas and heat flows can be recovered via alternative technologies. Recap our workshop in Atlanta, where we discussed the use of upstream methane monitoring equipment, electrolysers, carbon capture, hydrogen burners, energy storage and electric heating to achieve decarbonization of conventional ammonia plants.

Article

Thorium-powered ammonia production in Indonesia

Kevin Rouwenhorst October 19, 2023

In our September episode of Ammonia Project Features, Pupuk Kaltim and Copenhagen Atomics joined us to explore their new, nuclear-powered ammonia project in Bontang, East Borneo. Cophenagen’s Thorium-fed, Onion Core® reactor design will be integrated with solid oxide electrolysers and an existing ammonia synthesis loop to produce more than one million tonnes per year of low-carbon ammonia.

Article

Technology Status: Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolysis

Kevin Rouwenhorst August 30, 2023

Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolysis combines concepts from alkaline and PEM. Although AEM can potentially offer the best of both worlds compared to conventional technology, challenges such as oxygen sensitivity, stack scale-up and current density still need to be addressed. Germany-based Enapter is leading the commercialization of AEM systems, with other electrolyzer manufacturers now developing their own products.

Article

Technology status: alkaline electrolysis for renewable ammonia production

Kevin Rouwenhorst August 02, 2023

Alkaline electrolyzers will play a significant role in renewable ammonia production going forward. Historical developments in electrocatalysts and optimized stack design have already addressed some of the key bottlenecks in the technology, and new developments will enable flexible operations at higher pressures.

Article

Technology status: PEM electrolysis for renewable ammonia production

Kevin Rouwenhorst August 01, 2023

Recent PEM technology developments have centered around two issues: i) the relative scarcity of Iridium, and ii) the membrane thickness, limiting the efficiency of the PEM electrolyzer. This week we explore new approaches to both, including work by precious metal company Heraeus, and Norwegian start-up HyStar.

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Demonstrating CCS-based ammonia technologies in Japan

Kevin Rouwenhorst July 26, 2023

Our June episode of Ammonia Project Features focused on a new project in Niigata prefecture, which will demonstrate low-carbon, fossil-based ammonia production with a capacity of 500 tonnes per year. As part of the project, Japanese government organization JOGMEC will work with INPEX to develop enhanced gas recovery & CO2 sequestration monitoring technologies. Tsubame BHB will deploy its low-temperature, low-pressure ammonia synthesis technology based on an electride-supported catalyst developed at the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Article

China: scaling-up “flexible” ammonia production powered by renewable energy

Kevin Rouwenhorst June 28, 2023

The cost gap between fossil-based ammonia production and electrolysis-based ammonia production in China is arguably the smallest in the world. In our May episode of Ammonia Project Features, we explored two new, “flexible” renewable ammonia projects being developed in northeast China, as well as some of the engineering challenges as we scale-up electrolysis plants to gigawatt-sized.

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Solid oxide electrolysis: building capacity

Kevin Rouwenhorst May 22, 2023

Solid oxide electrolysis has recently gained traction, and is fast becoming an attractive technology option for new ammonia production projects. This week we will explore a recent ISPT report, the scale-up of Topsoe’s manufacturing capacity, and several project announcements.

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Hydro-electric ammonia: project design, engineering & technology selection

Kevin Rouwenhorst May 15, 2023

To design, build & operate a hydroelectric ammonia production plant fed by electrolytic hydrogen, what considerations need to be taken into account? Our recent episode of Ammonia Project Features explored this question, focusing on an upcoming project being developed in Paraguay by ATOME, URBAS and Casale. The use of surplus hydropower, existing industrial infrastructure, proactive engineering and commercially-available, flexible ammonia synthesis technologies all adds up to a less challenging task for developers, and a potential project template going forward.

Article

Flexible ammonia synthesis: shifting the narrative around hydrogen storage

Kevin Rouwenhorst April 27, 2023

Flexible ammonia production technology is currently scaling up to meet the challenges of fluctuating electricity feedstock. The ability to ramp down plants to 5 - 10% of their nominal load will minimize the requirement for hydrogen storage buffers and reduce the overall cost of renewable ammonia production. The first demonstration-sized flexible ammonia plants are due to begin operations later this year.