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News: The Centre has taken a significant step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing carbon emissions by unveiling a roadmap to establish Green Urea production in India, backed by a large-scale procurement of Green Ammonia under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
About Green Ammonia
- Green ammonia is ammonia (NH₃) produced using renewable electricity, green hydrogen, and nitrogen extracted from the atmosphere. It is manufactured through a process that results in little to no carbon emissions.
- Production of conventional ammonia: Conventional ammonia production relies on the Haber–Bosch process, where hydrogen, typically obtained from natural gas, is combined with nitrogen under high pressure and temperature. Because this method depends on fossil fuels, it generates substantial CO₂ emissions. It is known as Grey Ammonia.
- Production of green ammonia: Green ammonia production is a process where the production of ammonia is 100% renewable and carbon-free.
- Its production follows the same fundamental synthesis process but replaces fossil-fuel-based hydrogen with green hydrogen.
- Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, or hydropower.
- Nitrogen is supplied through air separation, and both gases are then combined in a Haber–Bosch process operated using clean energy.
- The chemical reaction remains unchanged: N₂ + 3H₂ → 2NH₃
- When both the hydrogen and the electricity used in the process come from renewable sources, the result is carbon-free ammonia.
- Application: Green ammonia has significant potential in supporting the transition to net-zero emissions through:
- Energy Storage: It can be stored and transported easily in liquid form, making it an efficient medium for storing renewable energy.
- Zero-Carbon Fuel: It can be used in engines or fuel cells to generate power, producing only water and nitrogen as by-products.
- Hydrogen Carrier: As ammonia is easier and cheaper to store and transport than hydrogen, it can serve as an effective carrier and be converted back into hydrogen when needed.
- It is a versatile feedstock used in various applications, including water purification and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
About Green Urea
- Green urea refers to urea produced using renewable energy sources such as municipal solid waste (MSW) to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to waste management and urea production.
- Production of Green urea: It is produced by generating green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using renewable electricity from sources.
- Nitrogen required for the process is obtained from the atmosphere through an air separation unit.
- The green hydrogen and nitrogen are then combined in the Haber–Bosch process to produce green ammonia.
- Carbon dioxide is captured from industrial sources using carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) technologies instead of being released into the atmosphere.
- The green ammonia reacts with the captured carbon dioxide to produce urea (NH₂CONH₂).
- Benefits:
- Green urea reduces greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy and using captured carbon dioxide in production.
- It supports sustainable agriculture by providing nitrogen for crops and lowers the carbon footprint of fertiliser use.
- It promotes renewable energy development, improves environmental sustainability and helps build a climate-resilient food system.
