Green ammonia synthesis using a plasma-catalytic plate reactor

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Ammonia is a commodity chemical with annual production volumes of around 150 million metric tons. It is mainly used as a feedstock for the fertilizer industry but also for the synthesis of other chemical compounds such as in the textile and pharmaceutical industries. Ammonia can also serve as a fuel for hard-to-decarbonize applications such as marine propulsion as well as a cost-effective hydrogen storage and transport medium. Conventional ammonia production through the Haber-Bosch process (N2 + 3H2 = 2 NH3) is energy-intensive and accounts for 1-2% of the world's total primary energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions (1.5 tons CO2 emitted per ton of NH3). Canada and Germany produce 3.9 and 2.4 million tons of ammonia annually, respectively, which combined is the fifth largest production worldwide. A more sustainable ammonia production route uses renewable electricity to not only generate green hydrogen via water electrolysis, but also to assist the HB process. Both electrolysis and electrified HB process are highly electricity intensive, though, and novel electro-technologies are needed to reduce the overall energy needs of the all-electric NH3 synthesis process. In this regard, plasma-catalysis is an emerging field, in which the plasma excites the gas species, which are further converted over the catalyst surface with a lower activation energy. Plasma-assisted catalytic conversion of hydrogen and nitrogen to ammonia has been investigated since many years. However, the detailed mechanism of plasma-assisted catalysis is still poorly understood and the reactor configurations are not optimized for best performances. Canada and Germany are both strong proponents of renewable electricity generation and utilization, and recently launched an hydrogen strategy. There is a huge potential for Canada to become a strong green ammonia exporter as part of its hydrogen strategy. Canada's and Germany's investment in green ammonia production technologies will help decarbonize the ammonia industry and positions both countries to become technology leaders in this key area of green hydrogen utilization.