Page 182 - CW E-Magazine (26-11-2024)

Special Report Special Report

Evaluating green ammonia adoption in Indian fertiliser ammonia plant would pose challenges. element, it permeates metals. The leakage take a few years. Till such time, use of
On volumetric basis, hydrogen is one-
from high pressure can easily occur, cleaner fuels like natural gas should to
industry third less energy dense than methane in addition to the problem related to be continued for production of urea and
(natural gas). This means three times hydrogen embrittlement. Thus, utilisation green ammonia can be used for produc-
mmonia is the key intermediate be for a period of 10 years. There will to utilise green hydrogen in ammonia more volume fl ow of hydrogen has to of green hydrogen in existing plants ing non-urea fertiliser products.
for deriving nitrogen in ferti- be commercial challenge with respect production. In natural gas steam reform- be maintained to provide the same heat will require a study of safety hazards
Alisers. India produced 19.5-mt to viability of fertiliser production as ing (SMR) process, hydrogen is gene- (energy) input as methane (natural gas). and metallurgy of the plant and equip- Economic challenges
ammonia during 2023-24, of which the cost of green ammonia may be 2.5 rated as a product. Presence of hydro- Further, for handling of these larger ment for its compatibility with green Other than technical challenges,
almost 92% was used for production times higher than grey ammonia. The gen in the natural gas as feed would volume fl ows, systems such as gas tur- hydrogen. there are economic challenges associ-
of 31.5-mt urea and rest for producing Ministry of New and Renewable Energy affect the forward reactionin SMR. bines and burners need to be designed ated with renewable energy and green
nitric acid and complex fertilisers. is incentivizing production of green This may result in lower conversion of to withstand the higher amount of National Green Hydrogen Mission hydrogen.
ammonia for three years. However, natural gas into products and ineffi cient hydrogen fi ring. There is likelihood of targets
Target Your Market More Effectively
Urea plants are integrated with the incentive may not be enough to operation of primary reformer. Since high temperature hydrogen attack. The National Green Hydrogen Mis- Green hydrogen is currently more
ammonia plants as the second raw cover the gap between grey and green process steps of gas purifi cation (sulphur sion specifi es replacing the imported expensive to produce than its grey coun-
material for production of urea, i.e., carbon ammonia prices and would require further removal), primary reformer, secondary Utilisation of green hydrogen as fuel grey ammonia withdomestic green terpart derived from natural gas. This
IndiaChemTrade
ChemImpex
dioxide (CO ) is generated in situ in support to make procurement viable. reformer, HT Shift and LT Shift are in the existing gas turbine / heatre covery ammonia by 2034-2035. A large number higher cost translates to costly green
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ammonia plant. highly integrated, it may affect the en- unit is not possible. As per a study, the of project proponents have shown inte- ammonia and hence urea. Further, there
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The supply of green ammonia will tire plant effi ciency. One of the studies existing gas turbines can take only 1% restin installing green ammonia plants. will be an additional cost for arranging
ChemImpex, the trade database, tracks, on a daily
IndiaChemTrade provides consolidated trade statistics
India imported about 2.2-mt of commence 36 months after signing of pointed out that hydrogen can be used hydrogen as in take. As the volume of However, majority of ammonia is for CO supply. This will make produc-
of India. The information provided here is based on the
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basis, exports and imports of chemicals and related
tion of urea from green ammonia less
ammonia for the production of DAP the Green Ammonia Purchase Agree- as feedstock by blending with natural hydrogen is signifi cantly higher than export. annual trade data published by the Directorate General
products through the major ports in India — a vital
competitive with traditionally produced
and NP/NPK complex fertilisers during ment. Experience of the fi rst tranche gas upto 2% only. that of natural gas, use of green hydro- of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Government
source of commercial intelligence. Find out on-line
2023-24. will help to build confi dence among gen shall lead to capacity limitation in- Policy of the Government of India ammonia.
of India. The database can be searched by: Chemical
how international markets are moving; where your
both suppliers and users of green Utilisation of hydrogen in the syn- equipment, pipelines and production of is also to increase the share of natural
competitors are exporting and at what price; where
Name/Harmonised Code to obtain the consolidated
Fertiliser industry has been identifi ed ammonia for extending period and off- thesis loop will be limited by the am- the plant. Thus, use of green hydrogen gas in energy mix from current 6% to Fertilisers are essential nutrients
imports are coming from and how their prices are
trade (import or export) in that item; or by Country to
as one of the prominent sectors for con- take. Further, government can moderate monia reactor space velocity. The intro- will require complete replacement or 15% by 2030. Fertiliser industry share for growth of agricultural productivity.
obtain the trade (import or export) in all chemicals and
moving. Download all this data, seamlessly, for a
suming renewable energy, green hydro- policies for future decarbonization. duction of hydrogen in synthesis loop major modifi cations of these equipment is almost one third of natural gas con- Higher cost of inputs may translate to
related products between India and that country
small fee — online, anytime, with no hassles.
gen and green ammonia. It is a fact that may result in lowering the production in as they are not designed for the hydro- sumption in the country. To meet the higher food infl ation. Fertiliser industry
fertiliser is the largest consumer of am- Urea plants the front end through conventional route gen fuel. It shall require huge capex growing need of the food, fi bre, fuel operates under a controlled policy envi-
ChemXchange
monia, which is the basic raw material Blending of green ammonia with from natural gas. Thiswill result in lower investment and time frame. and feed of the burgeoning population, ronment where the MRP of urea is fi xed
there will be an increased requirement by the government and industry is not
for production of nitrogen-based ferti- existing grey ammonia has been sug- CO generation, thus limiting urea pro- Open to all registered users — no subscription required
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ChemXchange — the chemical exchange with a difference — is where you can identify your buyers and sup-
lisers. However, there is a need to un- gested. However, this will pose limi- duction. Production of one tonne of urea Safety issues of fertilisers in the country. It is esti- having mandate to pass the increased
cost to end-users, i.e., farmers. Any
Hydrogen gas is highly fl ammable mated that by 2040, there will be re-
derstand the way different fertilisers are tation in existing urea plants as they requires about 740-kg of CO which plyers on-line, any time. This unique platform is free to all advertisers in the print version of Chemical Weekly.
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produced and how these green resources have already debottlenecked their capa- is not generated during electrolysis of and can easily ignite, thus leading to quirement of about 44-mt of urea and increase in cost of production would
For more information contact: 022-24044477. Fax: 022-24044450
can be utilised in an effective manner. city by 20-50%. There is surplus water for generation of hydrogen. An potential accidents and explosions. 33-mt of DAP and complex fertilisers. lead to increase in subsidy burden of
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ammonia generation in the existing air separation unit is required for gene- Additionally, hydrogen transportation Utilisation of green hydrogen and the government.
NP and NPK fertilisers plants due to lean gas and shortage of CO ration of nitrogen. Urea plants-based on involves use of high-pressure containers ammonia in existing urea plants as feed
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Ammonia and phosphoric acid for production of urea. Blending of green ammonia will have to fi nd another and pipelines, which can pose safety or fuel needs detailed technical and [Indian Journal of Fertilisers, 20 (10):
are combined to produce ammonium green ammonia will necessitate reduc- suitable source of CO , which needs to be risks. As hydrogen is a very light economic feasibility study which may 966-967, October 2024].
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phosphate, i.e., NP grade fertilisers, and tion of load in the up stream ammonia cleaned and potentially increasing cost
potash (K) is added for production of plant to balance CO production. This of production of urea. Further, storage
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various grades of NPK fertilisers. In will affect effi ciency of ammonia plant will be needed at both generation and
this process, ammonia is directly used, due to its operation at partial load. user sites. Production of urea is a con-
and grey ammonia can be substituted tinuous process, and any disruption in Missed a copy !!!
with green ammonia. Installation of carbondioxide reco- supply of CO from external source will For Digital Edition of this month’s issue & all other past issues
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very (CDR) plants from fl ue gases may also affect the operation of the plant.
To kickstart, 0.739-mt per annum be an option but it is capital intensive Commissioning a new green ammonia Visit www.hpicindia.com
of green ammonia will be procured by and additional energy will have to be plant in the vicinity of CO generating PDF copies available for download
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14 complex fertiliser plants in the fi rst spent in its operation. site may also be explored. Register Now
tranche, which is about 25% of total
ammonia requirement. The agreement Use of green hydrogen Green hydrogen as a fuel Contact: For Subscription : Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
for procurement of green ammonia will A more challenging proposition is Use of green hydrogen as a fuel in For Advertising : Mr. Vijay Raghavan - vijay@hpicindia.com
Mrs. Usha S. - usha@hpicindia.com
182 Chemical Weekly November 26, 2024 Chemical Weekly November 26, 2024 183
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