Envision Energy has released further details about its AI architecture, with two “foundation models” working in tandem to optimize renewable energy inputs for ammonia production, potentially unlocking millions of tons of production potential in China. Meanwhile, KBR and UK-based Applied Computing will combine AI capabilities with an existing digital control platform, allowing users to optimize operations.
In our latest technology landscape analysis, AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst explores four broad categories for novel ammonia production technologies: improved catalysts, sorbent enhancement, electrochemical ammonia synthesis, and other technology pathways (including geological, single-step and looping synthesis).
US-based Addis Energy announced they have closed an $8.3 million oversubscribed seed round to progress work on subsurface production of ammonia, via the strategic injection of feedstock materials.
Current global ammonia production is mostly based on gas-fed, two-stage reforming processs. Decarbonization of this existing production capacity – as well as new newbuild low-emission capacity also based on gas – can utilize an industrially-proven suite of alternative technologies and processes, including autothermal reforming, and partial oxidation combined with CCS. This article discusses some of the technologies available from various tech providers, and reference projects in operation.
We explore recent, full-scale, four-stroke engine testing results from IHI and Wärtsilä. Testing indicates N2O emissions can be almost fully eliminated with catalytic treatment, and significantly lower NOX emissions for engines running in ammonia mode, compared to running on diesel. While ammonia slip remains a key consideration due to the design of a four-stroke engine, catalytic treatment of the exhaust can eliminate even high concentrations, and release mitigation systems have already been designed and deployed to ensure safe operations.
InterContinental Energy’s new hydrogen production technology, the P2(H2)Node system, colocates hydrogen production within wind and solar farms, lowering Capex and increasing efficiency through minimising expensive electrical transmission infrastructure.
thyssenkrupp Uhde will supply technology for decarbonising three existing ammonia & urea plants operated by Misr Fertilizers Production Company (MOPCO) on the Nile Delta. This includes electrolysis capacity to feed the production of 150,000 tons per year of renewable ammonia, with Yara Clean Ammonia already committed as offtaker.
Syzygy and Lotte Chemical have announced results from the latest test of Syzygy’s all-electric ammonia cracker in Ulsan, South Korea. The unit demonstrated capacity of 290 kg/day of hydrogen produced at 11 kWh/kg, as Syzygy works towards commercialisation of the technology.