Assessing economically viable carbon reductions for the production of ammonia from biomass gasification

Abstract

Greenhouse gas emissions from fertiliser production are set to increase before stabilising due to the increasing demand to secure sustainable food supplies for a growing global population. However, avoiding the impacts of climate change requires all sectors to decarbonise by a very high level within several decades. Economically viable carbon reductions of substituting natural gas reforming with biomass gasification for ammonia production are assessed using techno-economic and life cycle assessment. Greenhouse gas savings of 65% are achieved for the biomass gasification system and the internal rate of return is 9.8% at base-line biomass feedstock and ammonia prices. Uncertainties in the assumptions have been tested by performing sensitivity analysis, which show, for example with a ±50% change in feedstock price, the rate of return ranges between -0.1% and 18%. It would achieve its target rate of return of 20% at a carbon price of £32/t CO, making it cost competitive compared to using biomass for heat or electricity. However, the ability to remain competitive to investors will depend on the volatility of ammonia prices, whereby a significant decrease would require high carbon prices to compensate. Moreover, since no such project has been constructed previously, there is high technology risk associated with capital investment. With limited incentives for industrial intensive energy users to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, a sensible policy mechanism could target the support of commercial demonstration plants to help ensure this risk barrier is resolved.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.09.011
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > School of Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering > Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)
College of Engineering & Physical Sciences
Additional Information: ©2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. Open access under CC BY license The authors would like to thank EPSRC ‘Supergen biomass biofuels and energy crops II core’ for funding (EP/E039995/1).
Uncontrolled Keywords: nitrogen fertiliser production,ammonia,techno economic assessment,life cycle assessment,climate change,biomass gasification
Publication ISSN: 1879-1786
Last Modified: 15 Mar 2024 08:10
Date Deposited: 18 Aug 2014 13:35
Full Text Link:
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2014-02-01
Published Online Date: 2013-09-18
Authors: Gilbert, Paul
Alexander, Sarah
Thornley, Patricia (ORCID Profile 0000-0003-0783-2179)
Brammer, John (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-0487-515X)

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