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The real problem is that some of the most important fertilizers are synthesized basically from methane. And about 25% of natural gas is exported via the Hormuz
by nine_k 7mo ago
The real problem is that some of the most important fertilizers are synthesized basically from methane. And about 25% of natural gas is exported via the Hormuz strait. This is something solar energy currently cannot tackle.
- deleted 7mo ago[deleted]
- ZeroGravitas 7mo agoYou can do solar -> hydrolysis -> hydrogen -> ammonia-> fertilizer, rather than methane -> steam reforming -> hydrogen -> ammonia -> fertilizer. So it's technically feasible. Not quite there in terms of cost and scale but if the alternative is a blockade then probably worth investing in. Ironically some of the best locations for production are in the middle east.
- Gibbon1 7mo agoYou can run the numbers the cost isn't that bad to do it that way. I think South Africa gets most of its diesel from the Fischer–Tropsch process. You could use electrolytic hydrogen as an input for that. About 40% of the energy in gasoline is from hydrogen burning. It's not great but it would allow you to run current vehicles off about 40% solar energy.
- dzhiurgis 7mo agoBest part you can probably miniaturize entire process into panel itself and 5 panels per hectare would be enough...
- euroderf 7mo agoI'd like to see a turnkey synfuels plant for home/business use. Making methane or (better?) hydrocarbons. "Just add solar panels." Anyone got a WAG about how much it would cost.
- fc417fc802 7mo agoSome university in the US midwest demoed a prototype of this several years ago using wind power. Sorry no link to hand.
- th0masfrancis 7mo agoIf 25% of natural gas demand is replaced by renewables then we don’t have to depend on Hormuz for fertilisers.
- zardo 7mo agoI don't think it's feasible to do get that done this season.
- coffeebeqn 7mo agoIt’s less important to get it fully perfectly done this season and more important to actually do it at a short-medium timescale. Why are we still so dependent on the Middle East and Russia?
- Tade0 7mo agoActually it can, but it needs to be scaled up 1000x at least: https://www.topsoe.com/news/worlds-first-dynamic-green-ammonia-plant-starts-operations-in-denmark https://www.topsoe.com/news/worlds-first-dynamic-green-ammon... Main innovation in this plant is that the process is optimized to run off of intermittent sources like solar or wind.
- sysguest 7mo agowell I guess its time to grow nitrogen-fixing plants like beans & peanuts...
- fc417fc802 7mo agoSolar and wind are more economically efficient methods of nitrogen fixation.