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Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Ammonia-Based Electricity

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea J. Boero

    (Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 13 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Kevin Kardux

    (Proton Ventures, Karel Doormanweg 5, 3115 JD Schiedam, The Netherlands)

  • Marina Kovaleva

    (College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK)

  • Daniel A. Salas

    (Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 13 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Jacco Mooijer

    (Proton Ventures, Karel Doormanweg 5, 3115 JD Schiedam, The Netherlands)

  • Syed Mashruk

    (College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK)

  • Michael Townsend

    (Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 13 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

  • Kevin Rouwenhorst

    (Proton Ventures, Karel Doormanweg 5, 3115 JD Schiedam, The Netherlands
    Ammonia Energy Association, 77 Sands Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
    Catalytic Processes & Materials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

  • Agustin Valera-Medina

    (College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK)

  • Angel D. Ramirez

    (Facultad de Ingeniería en Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Escuela Superior Politecnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 13 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090902, Ecuador)

Abstract

In recent years, several researchers have studied the potential use of ammonia (NH 3 ) as an energy vector, focused on the techno-economic advantages and challenges for full global deployment. The use of ammonia as fuel is seen as a strategy to support decarbonization; however, to confirm the sustainability of the shift to ammonia as fuel in thermal engines, a study of the environmental profile is needed. This paper aims to assess the environmental life cycle impacts of ammonia-based electricity generated in a combined heat and power cycle for different ammonia production pathways. A cradle-to-gate assessment was developed for both ammonia production and ammonia-based electricity generation. The results show that electrolysis-based ammonia from renewable and nuclear energy have a better profile in terms of global warming potential (0.09–0.70 t CO 2 -eq/t NH 3 ), fossil depletion potential (3.62–213.56 kg oil-eq/t NH 3 ), and ozone depletion potential (0.001–0.082 g CFC-11-eq/t NH 3 ). In addition, surplus heat for district or industrial applications offsets some of the environmental burden, such as a more than 29% reduction in carbon footprint. In general, ammonia-based combined heat and power production presents a favorable environmental profile, for example, the carbon footprint ranges from −0.480 to 0.003 kg CO 2 -eq/kWh.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea J. Boero & Kevin Kardux & Marina Kovaleva & Daniel A. Salas & Jacco Mooijer & Syed Mashruk & Michael Townsend & Kevin Rouwenhorst & Agustin Valera-Medina & Angel D. Ramirez, 2021. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Ammonia-Based Electricity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:20:p:6721-:d:657637
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Park, Chybyung & Jeong, Byongug & Zhou, Peilin, 2022. "Lifecycle energy solution of the electric propulsion ship with Live-Life cycle assessment for clean maritime economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    3. Viviana Negro & Michel Noussan & David Chiaramonti, 2023. "The Potential Role of Ammonia for Hydrogen Storage and Transport: A Critical Review of Challenges and Opportunities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, August.

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