US-REGEN Documentation

Resource and Technology Assumptions / Conversion

Ammonia and Fuel Synthesis

Summary

Ammonia Production

The model includes an explicit representation of ammonia production as well as synthetic hydrocarbon fuels produced via synthesis of hydrogen and captured carbon. Ammonia can be produced using conventional technology via the Haber-Bosch process, with or without carbon capture, or synthesized directly from hydrogen produced separately (e.g. from electrolysis). The inputs to Haber-Bosch include natural gas (as both feedstock and energy input), electricity (in particular for air separation of nitrogen feedstock), as well as capital investment costs and fixed and variable operating costs.

Synthetic Fuel Production

The model considers two synthetic fuel technologies, a methanation process to synthesize natural gas and a synthetic jet fuel technology to produce a jet fuel-equivalent from hydrogen and carbon. The inputs to these technologies include feedstock CO2 (from any source but in practice only from a biogenic source or removed directly from air), hydrogen (as both feedstock and energy), electricity, and capital and operating costs.

Technology Cost and Performance

US-REGEN model assumptions for the costs and performance of ammonia and synthetic fuel production over time are shown in the chart and table below. Use the buttons to choose a parameter to compare.

Capital Cost by Ammonia and Synthetic Fuel Production Technology and Year
  • Chart
  • Table
Data Definitions

Measures

  • Capital Cost ($ per kBtu/h): Cost to bring a new ammonia/synthetic fuel production system into operation, normalized to the system's output capacity
  • Fixed Cost ($/year per kBtu/h): Annual fixed cost to operate and maintain the system, normalized to the system's output capacity
  • Variable Cost ($/MMBtu): Non-fuel variable cost to operate and maintain the system per unit of synthetic fuel energy produced
  • Natural Gas Input (MMBtu per MMBtu output): Natural gas energy input per unit of synthetic fuel energy produced
  • Electricity Input (MMBtu per MMBtu output): Electric energy input per unit of synthetic fuel energy produced
  • Hydrogen Input (MMBtu per MMBtu output): Hydrogen energy input per unit of synthetic fuel energy produced
  • CO2 Input (tCO2 per MMBtu output): Carbon dioxide input per unit of synthetic fuel energy produced

Ammonia and Synthetic Fuel Production Technology

  • Ammonia HB: Ammonia production via Haber-Bosch (without carbon capture)
  • Ammonia HB+CC: Ammonia production via Haber-Bosch with 99% carbon capture
  • Ammonia Direct: Direct synthesis of ammonia with hydrogen input
  • Synth NG: Synthetic natural gas production from hydrogen and carbon dioxide (methanation)
  • Synth Jet: Synthetic jet fuel production from hydrogen and carbon dioxide (Fischer–Tropsch)