China Energy Storage Network News: Recently, the integrated demonstration project of wind, solar, hydrogen and ammonia storage in Siziwang Banner, Ulanqab, Inner Mongolia, the construction project of synthetic green ammonia, was launched in Duerbert Chemical Park, taking a solid step towards the development of new energy industry and zero-carbon fuel manufacturing. After the project is completed, the annual green electricity generation will be about 6.3 billion kWh, which can save 1.339 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 6.3278 million tons. It is expected to produce 90,000 tons of green hydrogen and 500,000 tons of green ammonia annually.

Ammonia, as an efficient carrier of zero-carbon fuel and hydrogen energy, can achieve carbon-free emissions of terminal energy. Under the background of the "dual carbon" goal, hydrogen-ammonia fusion is increasingly becoming a hot spot for the development of the energy industry. Industry insiders said that the green hydrogen-ammonia-alcohol integrated project developed in the "ammonia-hydrogen + new energy" model is replacing the previous single grid-connected power generation project and becoming a new development direction.

■ Ammonia is the best zero-carbon carrier for hydrogen energy

“Ammonia has high hydrogen storage density, high energy density, and low hydrogen storage cost; at the same time, ammonia fuel can achieve zero carbon emissions during use.” Recently, when talking about the advantages of ammonia fuel, Han Minfang, a professor at Tsinghua University and a distinguished professor of the Yangtze River Scholars, commented.

In the view of Luo Guangnan, director of the Hydrogen Energy and Ammonia Application Research Center of the Energy Research Institute of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, ammonia is the best zero-carbon carrier for hydrogen energy, and many countries have regarded "ammonia" as the "2.0 version of hydrogen energy."

Luo Guangnan further introduced that since ammonia has a very slow flame propagation speed and a relatively narrow flammable range, its storage and transportation are relatively safe. It can also be liquefied by simple pressurization or cooling, so the liquefaction, storage and transportation costs are low, and it is easy to store and transport on a large scale, over a long period, and over long distances, without being restricted by time and space.

Since the calorific value of ammonia is similar to that of coal, it has a good match with coal powder. "Therefore, at present, the research on carbon reduction of coal-fired power boilers at home and abroad mainly focuses on coal-fired ammonia mixing." Luo Guangnan emphasized.

The United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries have successively conducted research on ammonia energy. For example, Japan has formulated a roadmap to achieve zero-carbon power generation of pure ammonia boilers by 2050.

The pace of ammonia application in my country is also accelerating. In 2022, the "Medium- and Long-Term Plan for the Development of Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021-2035)" proposed to expand the scale of hydrogen energy application in the industrial field to replace fossil energy, actively guide the transformation of synthetic ammonia, synthetic methanol, refining, coal-to-oil and gas and other industries from high-carbon processes to low-carbon processes, and promote the green and low-carbon development of high-energy-consuming industries. In February this year, Nanhai District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province issued the "Implementation Plan for Building a 100 Billion Industrial Cluster of Hydrogen Energy and Ammonia Hydrogen Fusion Equipment Manufacturing in Nanhai District, Foshan City (2024-2030)", proposing that by 2030, the hydrogen energy and ammonia hydrogen fusion equipment manufacturing industry in Nanhai District will be built into a 100 billion industrial cluster with a total output value of more than 100 billion yuan and more than 100 enterprises above the designated size.

■Many places have actively laid out

Reporters noticed that central state-owned enterprises represented by the State Energy Group, State Power Investment Corporation, and China Energy Construction Group have begun to lay out and invest in the construction of wind, solar, hydrogen and ammonia integrated projects. Data shows that since 2024, the total investment in the project has been nearly 200 billion yuan.

In July 2022, the new wind, solar, hydrogen and ammonia integrated demonstration project of Ganqimaodu Port Processing Park of Urad Middle Banner invested by Guohua Investment of State Energy Group was registered; in May 2023, the Da'an wind, solar and green hydrogen synthesis ammonia integrated project of State Power Investment Jidian Co., Ltd. was fully started; in April 2024, the Tianying Liaoyuan wind, solar, hydrogen storage, ammonia and alcohol integrated project focused on the "Hydrogen Power Jilin" action, organically integrating wind energy, solar energy, energy storage, hydrogen energy, methanol production and other fields, building a complete green energy industry chain, and promoting Liaoyuan's transformation from a traditional coal base to a modern zero-carbon highland.

Jilin Da'an wind, solar and green hydrogen synthesis ammonia integrated demonstration project (referred to as "Da'an Project") is the largest green ammonia investment benchmark project in my country. Wang Xianmin, director of hydrogen energy business and director of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Center of Jidian Co., Ltd., introduced that the total investment of the Da'an project is about 6 billion yuan. It adopts an integrated solution of "green hydrogen consumes green electricity, green ammonia consumes green hydrogen". The construction includes 800MW of renewable energy, including 700MW of wind power and 100MW of photovoltaic power. Through the "new energy +" mode, green hydrogen, green ammonia, green methanol, green oil and gas and other applications are coupled to promote the rapid iteration of green electricity conversion industry technology, promote the large-scale development of green electricity conversion industry, and provide a new green and low-carbon way to create "Ecological Da'an". After the project is completed and put into production, it is expected to produce 32,000 tons of green hydrogen and 180,000 tons of green ammonia annually, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 650,000 tons per year, and provide more than 300 jobs, achieving multiple development of ecological benefits, economic benefits, and social benefits.

■Technical and economic issues need to be overcome

Although the integration of hydrogen and ammonia and new energy has many advantages, and demonstration projects are also being promoted, there are still many challenges to achieve its widespread application in my country and even around the world.

Sun Shaobo, a researcher at the second department of new energy business of Hejun Consulting, recently wrote an article pointing out that in terms of technology, the energy efficiency and stability of hydrogen-ammonia fusion reaction still need to be improved. In addition, the catalysts and reaction conditions required for large-scale preparation of ammonia still need further research and optimization.

At the same time, economic efficiency cannot be ignored. Reducing costs is one of the important challenges facing hydrogen-ammonia fusion technology. Sun Shaobo said that the cost of hydrogen-ammonia fusion technology is relatively high at present, and it is difficult to compete with traditional energy.

How to solve these problems? Wang Xianmin suggested that the state should issue corresponding policies to provide clear guidance and provide financial support.

In terms of strengthening the research and development of key core technologies, industry experts suggest combining renewable energy with the hydrogen energy industry, using ammonia as an energy storage or hydrogen storage carrier, and developing a zero-carbon cycle technology route of "clean and efficient synthesis of ammonia, economical and safe ammonia energy storage and transportation, and carbon-free and efficient hydrogen-ammonia utilization". A number of major scientific and technological projects should be organized and implemented in the key areas of efficient and low-cost synthesis of green ammonia, ammonia combustion utilization and tail gas treatment, and ammonia synthesis and ammonia energy application, and it is recommended to concentrate efforts on key issues.

"In terms of standards, domestic industry standards are not sound enough and need to be further improved." Wang Xianmin said, in addition, scientific prevention of risks in project construction is also necessary. "For example, our project uses solid hydrogen storage. Now the new technology iteration is very fast, and a mixed solid and liquid hydrogen storage mode will appear."

[Editor: Gao Qian]