Starfire Energy, a company focused on developing ammonia production from renewable sources, addresses the safety concerns associated with ammonia's pungent odor. Co-founder Joe Beach highlights that this odor serves as a warning in case of leaks, ensuring prompt detection.
Green ammonia startups aim to revolutionize ammonia production by making it cleaner and more manageable. They envision producing ammonia in compact units, similar to shipping containers, allowing for decentralized production near the point of use. This approach stands in stark contrast to the massive Haber-Bosch plants currently employed.
Atmonia, an Icelandic company, envisions selling mini ammonia factories housed within shipping containers. Co-founder Helga Flosadóttir emphasizes the importance of decarbonizing fertilizer production and the broader goal of using ammonia as a fuel. This could potentially reduce our reliance on fossil fuels in transportation and other sectors.
Researchers at Monash University and Jupiter Ionics explore ammonia production as a fuel alternative. Douglas MacFarlane, Chief Scientific Officer of Jupiter Ionics, acknowledges the growing interest in ammonia as an energy source. He highlights the need for significant scaling up of production to meet projected demand, requiring gigawatt-scale plants. The company's technology utilizes solar-powered plasma cells to convert nitrogen from the air into nitric acid for soil application.