Renewable-to-ammonia: Configuration strategy and technoeconomic analysis

The increasing demand for chemical raw materials has provided opportunities for the ammonia (NH₃) industry. However, little attention has been devoted to the economic feasibility of renewable-to-ammonia (RE2A). Therefore, this paper proposes a technoeconomic model to research the optimal capacity configuration and quantify the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) for RE2A, which is a retrofitted plant based on coal-to-ammonia (C2A). A cost model of C2A is established as a benchmark to evaluate the economic feasibility of RE2A. A case study in Inner Mongolia is adopted, which shows that the monthly NH₃ output is 7-11×10³t, which satisfies actual industrial production. The LCOA of RE2A is 469$/t, with investment in wind turbines accounting for 58%, which is lower than the NH₃ market price (605$-650$/t). The LCOA of RE2A will equal that of C2A with a carbon tax of 47.1$/t CO₂, which confirms the economic advantages of RE2A in the future.