The Environmental Feasibility of Decentralised Solar Ammonia
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Date
2023-03-29
Publication Type
Journal Article
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yes
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Abstract
Intense efforts have been devoted to developing green and blue centralised Haber-Bosch processes (gHB and bHB, respectively), but the feasibility of a decentralised and sustainable scheme has yet to be assessed. Here we reveal the conditions under which small-scale systems based on the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen (eN2R) powered by photovoltaic energy (NH3-leaf) could become a competitive technology in terms of environmental criteria. To this end, we calculated energy efficiency targets based on solar irradiation atlases to guide research in the incipient eN2R field. Even under this germinal state, the NH3-leaf technology would compete favourably in sunny locations relative to the business-as-usual production scenario. The disclosed sustainability potential of NH3-leaf makes it a strong ally of gHB toward a non-fossil ammonia production.
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published
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Journal / series
Volume
77 (3)
Pages / Article No.
150 - 153
Publisher
Swiss Chemical Society
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Edition / version
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
Ammonia leaf; Green ammonia; Life cycle assessment; N2 electroreduction
Organisational unit
09655 - Guillén Gosálbez, Gonzalo / Guillén Gosálbez, Gonzalo
Notes
Funding
180544 - NCCR Catalysis (phase I) (SNF)