Germany tests ammonia to obtain green fuel. Action is part of Europe's plan to reduce emissions to zero
The German government is studying the use of ammonia and methanol as a way to supply hydrogen to industry as a clean fuel. Government intends to invest 9 billion euros in development. This is part of Europe's biggest economic plan to cut its emissions to zero by 2050.
Check out other news of the day:
- Fire at a hydroelectric plant operated by a Chinese group in MS is recorded on video and scares people
- Seventy thousand jobs in Pernambuco: sugar cane — the great ally for the state's economy to face the crisis caused by the coronavirus
- After US elections, China's economy will grow up to 8,2% in 2021, according to IMF and world bank
The government funded a feasibility study to evaluate the means of transporting hydrogen and focused on the two chemical components as possible solutions.
Stefan Kaufmann, Member of the German Parliament responsible for coordinating the use of green hydrogen in Germany, says, “Safe and cost-effective transport options are crucial to establishing a global hydrogen economy. “We have the advantage of being able to leverage an existing global infrastructure that has been in use for decades.”
- BNDES and Finep receive R$167 billion in proposals for the development of biorefineries in Brazil, the volume of proposals exceeds available resources and reinforces the country's potential in the biofuels sector
- Asphalt? No way! The Brazilian state follows the example of the US and will renovate 340 km of highway with concrete, which lasts twice as long as the conventional asphalt used today in Brazil and is cheaper
- Does special retirement vary depending on the profession? The benefit guarantees differentiated conditions for different categories
- São Paulo will create the largest railway tourism network in Brazil with trains that run across the state on a network of over a THOUSAND kilometers of railways
The government's plan is to invest 9 billion euros to develop hydrogen for use in green fuels such as steel and glass, which require temperatures above 1.000 degrees Celsius. Currently, polluting fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas fuel these processes.
Having hydrogen as an option comes with its own challenges. It is difficult to transport large numbers of the lightest components because their density is so low that they require bulky containers or condense for efficient transport.
Another option is ammonia – a compound formed from one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen can be converted into liquid ammonia and vice versa, and can be transported around the planet.
Ammonia with a content of 17,6% hydrogen by weight is the cheapest way to carry hydrogen on board. Currently, the compost is produced in factories powered by fossil fuels, being a key component of agricultural fertilizers.