A Demand-Responsive Green Ammonia Plant and its Impact on the Electricity Distribution System

Most large-scale ammonia production typically relies on natural gas or coal, which causes harmful carbon pollution to enter the atmosphere. The viability of a small-scale “green” ammonia plant is investigated where renewable electricity is used to provide hydrogen and nitrogen via electrolysis and air liquefaction, respectively, to a Haber-Bosch system to synthesize ammonia. A green ammonia plant can serve as a demand-responsive load to the electricity distribution system and provide long-term energy storage through chemical energy storage in ammonia. A coordinated operational model of an electricity distribution system and an electricity-run ammonia plant is proposed in this paper. Case studies are performed on a modified PG&E 69-node electricity distribution system coupled with a small-scale ammonia plant. Results indicate the ammonia plant can adequately serve as a demand response resource and positively impact the distribution locational marginal price (DLMP).