Decarbonisation Technology - February 2022 Issue

Conventional ammonia production

Electricity-based ammonia production

Feed

Fuel

Water

Air

Water

Air

Electricity

Steam reformer HT and LT shift Air compression CO removal Methanation Syn compression Refridgeration Synthesis loop

De-oxygenation H compression Electrolysis

(GHG)

H generation

Purication

Air separation

Syn compression Synthesis loop

Synthesis

NH recovery

Figure 3 Ammonia production – conventional and green routes

pledged – have DRI production tripling within the next 30 years.

the high temperatures required in steel furnaces is considered one of the more difficult industries to decarbonise. Experimentation is under way to produce direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron ore using green hydrogen instead of natural gas. According to McKinsey, hydrogen-based DRI is, therefore, expected to be a major decarbonisation lever for steelmakers, and given the announcements a number of companies have made to introduce DRI, strong growth is expected in the future. In fact, scenarios based on a carbon-neutral steel industry – a goal many major steelmakers have

Ammonia In 2020, world ammonia production stood at 180 million tonnes, with China, Russia, India, and the US as the major players. Around 80% of synthetic ammonia is used for making mineral fertilisers for enhancing crops yields. Other user industries include plastics, fibres, explosives, nitric acid, and intermediates. In the future, ammonia is expected to be useful for energy storage, as well as a zero-carbon fuel and a hydrogen energy carrier for long-distance shipping in the marine sector. The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) estimates that approximately 1.2% of the world’s energy is used for fertiliser production, of which 93% is marked for ammonia. Despite the enormous strides made by the industry in past years in reducing emissions, current ammonia production methods still contributed to 1% of total global emissions in 2019. It is generally agreed in the industry that a further reduction in energy consumption of the order of 6-7% is possible even in the most efficiently operating plants, although this would require an increased capex. Recent developments in the ammonia industry are epoch making and innovation unprecedented. The green ammonia concept fully eliminates the use of fossil fuel and feedstock and consequently wards off any emissions on that account.

End uses of hydrogen

Power • Convert excess renewable power produced to H 2 • Blend with natural gas • Liquefy and store for later power generation Industrial • Convert to ammonia for fertilisers and use as fuel • Refineries for hydrogenation, hydrocracking • Production of green steel • Chemical synthesis – methanol Transportation • Heavy equipment • Long-distance hauling – marine, rail, and aviation • Light commercial vehicles