A master programme thesis from Aalborg University
Optimising Green Ammonia Production via SOEC Heat Integration to Support Decarbonisation of The Maritime Sector: A Techno-Economic Study
[Optimising Green Ammonia Production via SOEC Heat Integration to Support Decarbonisation of The Maritime Sector]
Author(s)
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-08-29
Pages
75 pages
Abstract
Decarbonising the maritime sector is a pressing challenge in achieving global climate goals, as shipping faces significant complications to direct electrification. In response to this, the production of green ammonia, integrated with high-temperature (HT) solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) and low-temperature (LT) proton-conducting SOECs (P-SOECs), is investigated to optimise large-scale green ammonia production for maritime applications. The objective is to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of a 500 MW electrolysis-based ammonia plant with and without heat integration between the Haber-Bosch reactor (HBR) and steam electrolysis. The plant is modelled as three subsystems: hydrogen production via steam electrolysis, nitrogen production via cryogenic air separation, and ammonia synthesis through the HB process. Process simulations in Aspen Plus are coupled with electrochemical modelling in MATLAB to assess four case configurations: SOEC and P-SOEC systems, with and without heat integration. Results show that heat integration significantly improves plant performance, with the heat-integrated HT SOEC case achieving the highest electrical efficiency of 82.3% and the lowest levelised cost of ammonia (LCOA) of 310 - 535 USD/tonNH3, making it competitive with other green ammonia pathways. While the P-SOEC configuration benefits most from waste-heat integration, it remains constrained by lower Faradaic efficiency and higher capital costs. These findings highlight the potential of heat-integrated steam electrolysis systems as a cost-effective pathway to supply green ammonia for the maritime industry’s transition to carbon neutrality.
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