<Will the UK Face a Natural Gas Crisis this Winter? (Part 1 of 2) The Oil Drum DrumBeat: October 29, 2008>

73 comments on Ammonia Fuel Network Conference - 2008

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Boof on October 28, 2008 - 6:17pm Permalink | Subthread | Comments top

One of these projects will need to start showing decent profit or high EROEI soon. For example the solar ammonia dissociation project for Whyalla Australia is in the shadow of nearby uranium developments. Moreover some have suggested nuclear hydrogen is a better route to nitrogen fertiliser. I agree that stored 'value' is the key to intermittent power output, whether that value is a fuel, fertiliser or electricity on demand.

I'm sure Fritz Haber would approve being the all time eager beaver. A recent TV documentary showed black and white footage of him enthusiastically supervising poison gas trials. I believe his wife used his gun to commit suicide because of that.

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SacredCowTipper on October 28, 2008 - 6:50pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Given the job creation that occurs we get access to NYPA power at the $0.02/kwh range. Including operations cost and debt service our output will cost about $350/ton and the current retail market is $1,100 per ton in the area.

I can't speak to EROI on this one - how far back do we go? The steel in the plant itself? We can calculate the energy in the ammonia ... but the instigator of our project is a biodiesel producer making the switch from soy to canola. It's a complex issue and fertilizer is an important commodity - we'll forge ahead and leave the EROI debate to those better equipped to engage in it.

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DaveMart on October 28, 2008 - 7:07pm Permalink | Subthread | Parent | Comments top

Thanks for the article, and good for you in not getting too wound up into the EROI debate!
If there are not subsidies involved, EROI should show itself in the dollar costs, and those are a lot easier to keep track of.
I'm promising myself I will have a good read and try to get to grips with some of your sources, but it is quite daunting.

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73 comments on Ammonia Fuel Network Conference - 2008

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