Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ammonia" fertilizer

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by tntxtnt on Saturday July 25, 2026 @12:42PM (#49049106)

> This process is extremely heat-intensive and accounts for up to 2% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

> While it is highly unsustainable, it has doubled the Earth’s food-carrying capacity and still feeds almost 50% of the population.

2% greenhouse gas emissions to feed 50% population is unsustainable? What?

> The key is to create synthetic ammonia fertilizer by combining atmospheric nitrogen with natural gas or coal.

> Synthetic fertilizer is traditionally created in chemical plants that require continuous, high-volume power. This is why producers remain reliant on fossil fuel-powered grids.

What, again? Haber-Bosch process requires continuous power doesn't mean it's natural gas or coal. Where is nuclear? Is solar/wind disrupt that much that it can't compress/heat up some gas??

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by jandrese on Saturday July 25, 2026 @01:35PM (#49049704)

> 2% greenhouse gas emissions to feed 50% population is unsustainable? What?

Eventually you cook everybody and the population drops to 0. We want to maintain the "feed everybody" aspect while eliminating the "continually add excess carbon to the atmosphere and render the planet uninhabitable" aspect.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by pfdietz on Saturday July 25, 2026 @12:44PM (#49049130)

Haber-Bosch require continuous input of hydrogen, but aside from that it is a net source of power. The reaction is exothermic and can provide more than enough work to drive compressors that pressurize the reactants.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by westurner on Saturday July 25, 2026 @01:35PM (#49049705)

TIL the Red Pyramid looks remarkably like the Haber-Bosch ammonia production process. And the word "Amun" is the etymological root of the word Ammonia.

From "Brawndo Plasma Thermos Makes What Plants Crave [video]" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48793495 about hot plasma treatment turning water into fertilizer;

> [Magnesium-doped geotextile water bags yield Struvite fertilizer (at lower cost but with Pb contamination risk)]

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by inigyou on Saturday July 25, 2026 @04:44PM (#49051380)

Is that true in practice or just in theory?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Wind turbine is being used to produce zero-carbon "green ... by pfdietz on Saturday July 25, 2026 @06:41PM (#49052475)

Looking more closely, it's not true at all. So ignore what I wrote. I was confused by compressors being driven by steam from the SMR plant that made hydrogen from natural gas.

[ Parent | on HN ]