Technoeconomic Assessment of Ammonia Production from Biomass with Nuclear Microreactors

There is rising global interest in ammonia production due to its significant role as a hydrogen carrier and as a critical component in fertilizers. However, the conventional Haber-Bosch (H-B) method, which utilizes fossil fuels, is associated with high energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions. Conversely, the thermochemical conversion of biomass to hydrogen in the ammonia synthesis process is seen as a more sustainable alternative. Innovative nuclear technologies, like microreactors, hold promise as distributed low-carbon energy sources, offering both electricity and process heat. For this process, the energy needs for the thermochemical conversion of biomass to ammonia are evaluated.

This paper presents a detailed economic analysis of ammonia production, with a focus on integrating thermal-chemical biomass gasification with a 5-MW(electric) nuclear microreactor as the energy source within the H-B process. It evaluates the technical and economic viability of using three different types of biomass feedstocks: corn stover, wheat straw, and wood. The analysis reveals that the estimation of the levelized cost of ammonia is highly sensitive to parameters such as capital cost and learning rates associated with the microreactor. It is crucial to note that the suggested method of producing ammonia is substantially less expensive than the combined conventional electrolysis and H-B-based methods.