Best practice energy use in ammonia production for different feedstocks

Process

Table 1- Best practice energy use in ammonia production for different feedstocks (IEA, 2011 p.84).

	Final energy (GJ/tonne NH3)				Primary energy (GJ/tonne NH3)				Source
	Electricity	Feedstock	Fuel	Steam	Electricity	Feedstock	Fuel	Steam
Ammonia from natural gas	0.29	20.67	10.93	-3.87	0.74	20.67	10.93	-4.3	Schyns, 2006
Ammonia from coal	3.7	20.67	17.33	-1.3	9.25	20.67	17.33	-1.44	AIChE, 2008; IFA, 2009a
Ammonia from oil	0.7	20.67	16.13	-1.5	0.74	20.67	16.13	-1.67	IFA, 2009a

Note: Ammonia is most commonly produced from natural gas and therefore the BPT values for this feedstock are used for all countries, except for India and China, where other types of feedstock are widely used. The best practice final energy use for oil-based ammonia production is assumed to be 30% higher compared to natural gas-based ammonia production (AIChE, 2008; IFA, 2009a). The best practice final energy use for coal-based ammonia production is assumed to be 50% higher than natural gas-based ammonia production (IFA, 2009a).

Table 2 - Best available technology energy use and CO₂ emissions for different feedstock types (IFA, 2009b pg. 4)

Energy Source	Process	Energy GJ/tonne NH3	CO2 emissions t/tonne NH3	GHG index
Natural Gas	Steam reforming	28	1.6	100
Naphtha	Steam reforming	35	2.5	153
Heavy Fuel Oil	Partial oxidation	38	3.0	188
Coal	Partial oxidation	42	3.8	238

Table 3 - Energy use and CO2 emissions for ammonia production in different world regions in 2010 (Based on IEA, 2007. p.83)

Region	Production Mt NH3/yc	Share of feedtsock type (%)				Specific Energy Use (GJ/t NH3)					Total Fuel Use (TJ/y)	CO2 Emissionsd (Mt CO2/y)
		Natural Gas	Oil	Nahta	Coal	Natural Gas	Oil	Naphta	Coal	Average
Western Europe	11.0	90	10			35.0	42.5e			35.8	393	23.0
North America	14.7	100				37.9				37.9	557	31.3
CIS	21.0	100				39.9				39.9	838	47.0
Central Europe	5.2	95	5			43.6	42.5e			43.5	226	12.9
China	49.7	24f	1f	0	75f	34	42.0		54.0	49.1	2440	220.1
India	14.0	80g	10g	9g		36.5	50.0	39.0		37.7	528	31.9
Other Asia	10.9	100				37.0				37.0	403	22.6
Latin America	9.9	100				36.0				36.0	356	20.0
Africa	6.3	100				36.0				36.0	227	12.7
Middle East	12.7	100				36.0				36.0	457	25.6
Oceania	1.9	100				36.0				36.0	68	3.8
World	157.3	72.4	4.3	0.8	22.4					41.3	6495	451

Benchmark Footnotes: 

[a]

IPCC (2006). 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Chapter 3 – Chemical Industry Emissions (Available here (link is external)).

[b]

Zhou, W., Zhu, B., Qiang, L., Ma, T., Hu., S., Griffy-Brown, C. (2010). CO2 emissions and mitigation potential in China’s ammonia industry. Energy Policy 38, pp.3701-3709.

[c]

International Fertilizers Association (IFA) (2012). Production and Trade Statistics. Paris, France.

[d]

The values refer to the amount of CO2 produced in ammonia production and do not account for possible use of CO2 in other industrial processes (e.g. urea production). CO₂ emissions are calculated based on carbon content of 15.3 kg/GJ for natural gas, 21 kg/GJ for fuel oil, 19.6 kg/GJ for fuel oil, and 26.5 kg/GJ for coal (IPCC, 2006 p.3.15; Zhou et al., 2010; U.S. EPA, 2012 p.32). (link is external)

[e]

Average value for European plants (IPCC, 2006 p.3.15)

[f]

China Chemical Energy Conservation Technology Association –CCECT (2011) China Petrochemical Energy Report.

[g]

The Fertilizer Association of India (2012).

[h]

International Energy Agency (IEA), 2007. Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO₂ Emissions (link is external). p.85

[1]

International Energy Agency (IEA), 2007. Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO₂ Emissions.

[2]

International Fertilizers Association (IFA), 2009. Energy Efficiency and CO₂ Emissions in Ammonia Production, 2008-2009 Summary Report.

[3]

International Fertilizers Association (IFA) (2009). Fertilizers, Climate Change and Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Sustainably. Paris, France.

[4]

International Energy Agency (IEA) (2012). Energy Technology Perspectives 2012, Pathways to a Clean Energy System. Paris, France. p.329.

[5]

International Energy Agency (IEA) (2009). Chemical and Petrochemical Sector: Potential of Best Practice Technology and Other Measures for Improving Energy Efficiency. IEA Information Paper on energy efficiency indicators. Paris, France.