https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/1384c714ccc80b76 takes you to mail with file attached…
——– Original Message ——-
I am wondering if you all might be interested in a proposal I am pushing in Australia that might also be relevant to other places with renewable energy resources in remote areas such as in North Africa, the Middle East, desert areas in China and India and elsewhere.
Put simply it is that such resources may not need to be connected to an electricity grid to earn income from exporting energy if they generate ammonia from hydrogen. Ammonia has a much higher energy density than hydrogen and can be readily generated using electricity to generate hydrogen and then reacting the hydrogen at high temperatures with nitrogen in the air. People at the Australian National University have been doing it for short-term energy storage in grid-connected CSP and people at the University of Iowa have been advocating it. Ammonia can be exported by tanker or pipeline and then turned back into electricity through a highly exothermic reaction with oxygen which only leaves nitrogen and water vapour which are harmless. The safety issue is greatly exaggerated as ammonia is routinely carried across the US by pipeline for use in generating urea fertiliser.
I attach a think piece I updated a few days back on this, with references. Issues include water needed, safety and economics, but I think all can be met. It may be a big opportunity but so far people I have approached in the renewable energy business including CSIRO researchers where I am an Honorary Fellow, seem disinterested (too busy with their own projects I suspect). I have hopes that a new Cooperative Research Centre based in Alice Springs, central Australia, will take it up but they need some feedback and support. With the new carbon tax in Australia there may be more funding and tax advantages in such a scheme.
I would welcome any comments on the attachment.
Best wishes,
Barrie
Barrie Pittock
33 Bourneville Avenue, Brighton East Vic 3187
Ph: 03) 9592 1907, email: bpittock bigpond.com
Recent books:
Climate Change: An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts, ed. Barrie Pittock (2003) (1.4Mb), Australian Greenhouse Office.
Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions (2nd. edition), Barrie Pittock, March 2009: see