Process
Note: Ammonia is most commonly produced from natural gas and therefore the BPT values for this feedstock are used for all countries, except for India and China, where other types of feedstock are widely used. The best practice final energy use for oil-based ammonia production is assumed to be 30% higher compared to natural gas-based ammonia production (AIChE, 2008; IFA, 2009a). The best practice final energy use for coal-based ammonia production is assumed to be 50% higher than natural gas-based ammonia production (IFA, 2009a).
Final energy (GJ/tonne NH3) | Primary energy (GJ/tonne NH3) | Source | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electricity | Feedstock | Fuel | Steam | Electricity | Feedstock | Fuel | Steam | ||
| Ammonia from natural gas | 0.29 | 20.67 | 10.93 | -3.87 | 0.74 | 20.67 | 10.93 | -4.3 | Schyns, 2006 |
| Ammonia from coal | 3.7 | 20.67 | 17.33 | -1.3 | 9.25 | 20.67 | 17.33 | -1.44 | AIChE, 2008; IFA, 2009a |
| Ammonia from oil | 0.7 | 20.67 | 16.13 | -1.5 | 0.74 | 20.67 | 16.13 | -1.67 | IFA, 2009a |
| Energy Source | Process | Energy GJ/tonne NH3 | CO2 emissions t/tonne NH3 | GHG index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas | Steam reforming | 28 | 1.6 | 100 |
| Naphtha | Steam reforming | 35 | 2.5 | 153 |
| Heavy Fuel Oil | Partial oxidation | 38 | 3.0 | 188 |
| Coal | Partial oxidation | 42 | 3.8 | 238 |
| Region | Production Mt NH3/yc | Share of feedtsock type (%) | Specific Energy Use (GJ/t NH3) | Total Fuel Use (TJ/y) | CO2 Emissionsd (Mt CO2/y) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas | Oil | Nahta | Coal | Natural Gas | Oil | Naphta | Coal | Average | ||||
| Western Europe | 11.0 | 90 | 10 | 35.0 | 42.5e | 35.8 | 393 | 23.0 | ||||
| North America | 14.7 | 100 | 37.9 | 37.9 | 557 | 31.3 | ||||||
| CIS | 21.0 | 100 | 39.9 | 39.9 | 838 | 47.0 | ||||||
| Central Europe | 5.2 | 95 | 5 | 43.6 | 42.5e | 43.5 | 226 | 12.9 | ||||
| China | 49.7 | 24f | 1f | 0 | 75f | 34 | 42.0 | 54.0 | 49.1 | 2440 | 220.1 | |
| India | 14.0 | 80g | 10g | 9g | 36.5 | 50.0 | 39.0 | 37.7 | 528 | 31.9 | ||
| Other Asia | 10.9 | 100 | 37.0 | 37.0 | 403 | 22.6 | ||||||
| Latin America | 9.9 | 100 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 356 | 20.0 | ||||||
| Africa | 6.3 | 100 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 227 | 12.7 | ||||||
| Middle East | 12.7 | 100 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 457 | 25.6 | ||||||
| Oceania | 1.9 | 100 | 36.0 | 36.0 | 68 | 3.8 | ||||||
| World | 157.3 | 72.4 | 4.3 | 0.8 | 22.4 | 41.3 | 6495 | 451 | ||||
Benchmark Footnotes:
[a]
IPCC (2006). 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. Chapter 3 – Chemical Industry Emissions (Available here (link is external)).
[b]
Zhou, W., Zhu, B., Qiang, L., Ma, T., Hu., S., Griffy-Brown, C. (2010). CO2 emissions and mitigation potential in China’s ammonia industry. Energy Policy 38, pp.3701-3709.
[c]
International Fertilizers Association (IFA) (2012). Production and Trade Statistics. Paris, France.
[d]
The values refer to the amount of CO2 produced in ammonia production and do not account for possible use of CO2 in other industrial processes (e.g. urea production). CO2 emissions are calculated based on carbon content of 15.3 kg/GJ for natural gas, 21 kg/GJ for fuel oil, 19.6 kg/GJ for fuel oil, and 26.5 kg/GJ for coal (IPCC, 2006 p.3.15; Zhou et al., 2010; U.S. EPA, 2012 p.32). (link is external)
[e]
Average value for European plants (IPCC, 2006 p.3.15)
[f]
China Chemical Energy Conservation Technology Association –CCECT (2011) China Petrochemical Energy Report.
[g]
The Fertilizer Association of India (2012).
[h]
International Energy Agency (IEA), 2007. Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions (link is external). p.85
[1]
International Energy Agency (IEA), 2007. Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions.
[2]
International Fertilizers Association (IFA), 2009. Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions in Ammonia Production, 2008-2009 Summary Report.
[3]
International Fertilizers Association (IFA) (2009). Fertilizers, Climate Change and Enhancing Agricultural Productivity Sustainably. Paris, France.
[4]
International Energy Agency (IEA) (2012). Energy Technology Perspectives 2012, Pathways to a Clean Energy System. Paris, France. p.329.
[5]
International Energy Agency (IEA) (2009). Chemical and Petrochemical Sector: Potential of Best Practice Technology and Other Measures for Improving Energy Efficiency. IEA Information Paper on energy efficiency indicators. Paris, France.