Title:
Sustainable Biohydrogen Storage via Biogas-to-Ammonia Conversion: Process Simulation and Environmental Assessment
Author(s):
da Costa Guedes, F., Cruz Lamas, G., Monteiro, S., Silveira, E.A.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
This study evaluates an integrated thermochemical route for storing biogas-derived hydrogen as ammonia. The system combines biogas upgrading by water scrubbing, biomethane steam reforming, cryogenic air separation, and ammonia synthesis via the Haber-Bosch process, modeled in Aspen Plus®, followed by life cycle assessment in Sphera® LCA for Experts. The functional unit was 100 kg of NH3, with gate-to-gate boundaries and IPCC AR6 GWP100 characterization. Simulation results indicated that 20.3 kg of H2, produced from 115.71 kg of biogas, were required per 100 kg of NH3. The total specific electricity demand, including ammonia decomposition for H2 recovery, was 221.53 kWh per 100 kg NH3. The LCA yielded a carbon intensity of 80.28 kg CO2eq up to ammonia synthesis and 119.08 kg CO2eq when ammonia decomposition was included. Compared with fossil reference routes, 239.04 kg CO2eq for conventional nitrogen fertilizer production and 199.24 kg CO2eq for hydrogen from natural gas steam reforming, the proposed route resulted in avoided emissions of 158.76 kg CO2eq when ammonia displaced conventional nitrogen fertilizer and 80.16 kg CO2eq when recovered H2 displaced fossil hydrogen. These reductions correspond to a theoretical CBIO-equivalent generation potential of one credit every 6 h 18 min or 12 h 30 min of continuous operation, respectively, assuming one CBIO per tonne of CO2eq avoided and a 2025 average price of R$ 54.72 per CBIO.
Keywords:
ammonia, biogas, carbon credits, hydrogen, reforming, life cycle assessment (LCA)
Topic:
Sustainability, Impacts, Policies and Systems Analysis
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts
Event:
34th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
2AV.3.8
Pages:
266 - 271
ISBN:
978-88-89407-27-1
Paper DOI:
10.5071/34thEUBCE2026-2AV.3.8
Price:
FREE
