Renewable Fertiliser Production to Improve Agricultural Efficiencies & Avoid Environmental Harm

Nitrogen fertilisers provide essential nutrients for crop growth. World consumption in 2010 was 105m tonnes, in 2013 the total value was £1.6bn. The price is determined by the cost of natural gas which is linked to the price of oil. To maximise yield nitrogen fertilisers contain ammonia or urea, (made from ammonia & CO2). Ammonia made from natural gas is responsible for 5% of global natural gas consumption (2% of world energy). Recent work has shown that it is feasible to produce ammonia using renewable energy, using hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water and nitrogen captured from air. The project will design and build a pilot scale system on a UK farm for ammonia production and urea synthesis. By producing fertiliser at the point of use, it will be possible to decentralise fertiliser production, negating energy use to dry product for transport, reduce GHG emissions associated with production and transport, improve UK food security and provide valuable export revenues.