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.
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.
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.