Combating Climate Change
Farms are surprisingly big-hitters in the carbon-emissions league; but it's not diesel-guzzling combines and tractors that are the problem. Ammonia fertilizers, widely used to boost yields of many crops, are actually made using natural gas – churning out some 3% of all the world's greenhouse gas emissions in the process. But that could be a thing of the past, if this proposed concept to create fertilizer 'out of the air', down on-the-farm, pans out. It could even produce a novel carbon-free fuel for much of the farm's machinery, too.
The technology at the heart of the proposal is Solid State Ammonia Synthesis (SSAS). It pulls in nitrogen from the air, splits hydrogen from water, and then fuses the two on a catalyst-coated ceramic tube. That produces ammonia for the farmer, with no CO2 emissions. And the liquid ammonia could even be used to power farm vehicles, the team says. It will require a sizable chunk of electricity – SSAS needs some 20,000 amps – but the team envisions turning to a sustainable source for that too – the wind.
The beauty of the system is that wind, air and water are all in abundant supply on most farms, allowing them to become self-sufficient in expensive fertilizer. They calculate a typical farm could produce all its fertilizer needs, and then some, from a medium-sized 800 kW wind turbine. Using high-power transformers, and perhaps a flow battery, to handle the ebb and flow of wind-powered electricity, a metric ton of ammonium fertilizer could be produced daily. If proven, farms using this technology could rapidly see themselves sliding down the rankings – to be amongst the greenhouse gas little leaguers.
About the finalists:
Jack C. Swearengen, PhD is Emeritus Professor and Founding Director of Engineering Programs at Washington State University, Vancouver, WA. Previously he managed Materials Science, Solar Thermal Components, Advanced Systems, and Technology Applications Divisions at Sandia National Laboratories. As Science Advisor for the Secretary of Defense he participated in the Strategic Arms Reduction Talks in Geneva, Switzerland. Jack holds the PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington.
Richard H. Ingram, Jr. Ingram Farms requires 160-200 tons of anhydrous ammonia every year to grow wheat and barley on 2600 acres of non-irrigated land; and in 2011 the cost was ~$1,000 per ton. Of the acres farmed by Ingram, the ~300 owned by Swearengen hosts three 1.8 MW Vestas wind turbines as part of PacifiCorp’s Marengo II wind farm. The Phase II pilot plant will be situated on the Swearengen property.
Peter Swearengen, BA, has ten years experience in development and management of strategic software projects for Fortune 500 companies in Financial Services, Manufacture, and Entertainment. During his time as Senior Project Manager his employer grew from four to over 900 employees and enjoyed a successful IPO. Working with Will Wright, inventor of Sims, Spore, and other industry-defining products, Peter has been a leader in the innovation of new IP. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California Santa Barbara.
Associates and contract employees
John A. Pruyn, MS
Steven Solovitz, Ph.D.
Matthew Kern, BS
Consultants
John H. Holbrook, Ph.D.
William Ahlgren, Ph.D.