Hydrogen by water electrolysis as basis for small scale ammonia production. A comparison with hydrocarbon based technologies.

Only a minor part of the world’s fertilizer production today is based upon hydrogen produced by water electrolysis. However, the price increase of hydro carbons has resulted in a focused interest in water electrolysis technology as a basis for relatively small scale fertilizer production. This alternative is particularly interesting to developing countries without natural resources of hydrocarbons and with available hydroelectric power. It is also being considered as a means of storing off-peak power from French atomic power stations and in connection with alternative energy sources like OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion).