I have to say this article was published in December 2019, and since then some projects for new green ammonia plants have been planned (although I must update this information).
Synthetic fertilizers are not just about ammonia: urea is needed too, and the existing infrastructure accounts for both, produced in close proximity. And using natural gas, the big problem.
Also, another thing: urea production needs carbon, currently provided by methane. If the source is the atmosphere, then producing green fertilizer would not only be carbon neutral, it could become negative. But again, if, if, if...
Where renewable energy is cheap and not easily exportable (e.g. Greenland, that recycles energy-intensive aluminum), this could be a way of exporting it indirectly and of diversifying the economy. Either that or hydrogen exports.
There is also the geopolitical perspective, since the world trade of fertilizers depend too much on states that tend to regard international law as optional: Russia, Belarus and Morocco (for urea and potassium, potassium, and phosphorus, respectively).
> states that tend to regard international law as optional
I know HN isn't supposed to be about politics, and not wishing to get into specifics and thus provoke an detailed argument, but many of us know of plenty of other "friendly" states that are happy to ignore international law whenever and wherever it suits them.
I have to say this article was published in December 2019, and since then some projects for new green ammonia plants have been planned (although I must update this information).
Synthetic fertilizers are not just about ammonia: urea is needed too, and the existing infrastructure accounts for both, produced in close proximity. And using natural gas, the big problem.
Also, another thing: urea production needs carbon, currently provided by methane. If the source is the atmosphere, then producing green fertilizer would not only be carbon neutral, it could become negative. But again, if, if, if...
Where renewable energy is cheap and not easily exportable (e.g. Greenland, that recycles energy-intensive aluminum), this could be a way of exporting it indirectly and of diversifying the economy. Either that or hydrogen exports.
There is also the geopolitical perspective, since the world trade of fertilizers depend too much on states that tend to regard international law as optional: Russia, Belarus and Morocco (for urea and potassium, potassium, and phosphorus, respectively).