Ammonia Production from Renewables R&D Project
R&D Focus Areas:
Electrolysis, Ammonia
Lead Organisation:
Monash University
Partners:
University of Wollongong
Status:
Completed
Start date:
August 2018
Completion date:
November 2022
Key contacts:
Professor Doug MacFarlane: Doug.macfarlane@monash.edu
Funding:
AUD$913,000 – ARENA
Project total cost:
AUD$2,730,000
Project summary description:
The project will develop high-performing electrodes for direct electrochemical conversion of atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia – a readily exportable carrier of renewable energy.
Monash University has developed a technology for electrosynthesis of ammonia from air nitrogen which holds the world record in efficiency under ambient conditions. The present project will further advance this technology by developing new electrodes that will provide a higher ammonia production rate, longer lifetime and maintain high selectivity. These parameters determine the energy and capital costs of the process. The project will demonstrate the ammonia production rates from renewables that support cost-effective implementation of the technology at large scale, which will accelerate progress towards a practical and scalable process.
Related publications and key links:
Suryanto, B. H. R.; Matuszek, K.; Choi, J.; Hodgetts, R. Y.; Du, H.-L.; Bakker, J. M.; Kang, C. S. M.; Cherepanov, P. V.; Simonov, A. N.; MacFarlane, D. R., Nitrogen reduction to ammonia at high efficiency and rates based on a phosphonium proton shuttle. Science 2021, 372 (6547), 1187-1191.
https://arena.gov.au/knowledge-bank/?keywords=Ammonia+Production+from+Renewables
ARENA Hydrogen R&D, Roundtable Webinar, 17 and 18 February 2021
summary-arena-funded-hydrogen-rd-projects.pdf
Higher degree studies supported:
Three PhD students are supported by this project.
Reviewed: December 2023 (ARENA publications added)