Beyond Bosch: On-farm fertiliser generation for net zero agriculture

Our vision is to exploit recent advances in plasma science and fluidised bed technology to create a modular pilot system that generates liquid fertiliser on-demand and directly at the point of need. Currently, the Haber-Bosch process is vital for synthesising ammonia, which is used to create artificial fertilisers that feed approximately half of the global population. However, the Haber-Bosch process is profoundly damaging to the environment, consuming around 2% of the world's energy and producing 1% of global CO2 emissions. By modularising and decentralising fertiliser production our technology has the potential to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions associated with both the production and transportation of fertiliser, which currently contributes 37% towards the 1.13 GtCO2e associated with the fertiliser lifecycle, equivalent to 2.1% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the on-demand and decentralised generation of fertiliser using renewable energy sources facilitates the adoption of precision fertilisation techniques, with the potential to further reduce emissions by 5 – 10%. Success will enhance the competitiveness of the UK agriculture sector, delivering economic impacts via cost reduction and improved land utilisation while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In essence the developed technology will support UK efforts to tackle climate change, whilst enhancing sustainability and ensuring future economic prosperity. To realise these net zero benefits our aim is to create an advanced fluidised bed reactor, powered by renewable energy, that produces a minimum of 10 L/min of tailored liquid fertiliser. Achieving this is the essential next-step, as identified by our stakeholders, to accelerate the translation of laboratory prototypes to a field-ready unit, capable of generating robust data that inspires confidence and significantly de-risks future commercialisation. Using this award, three key objectives will be addressed: (1) Build on the outcomes of prior EPSRC research to develop an advanced pulsed plasma source which significantly reduces the energy demand associated with Nitrogen fixation; (2) Leverage recent efforts focused on fluidised bed development to create a unique four-phase (plasma, gas, liquid and solid) reactor that is powered by solar energy; and (3) demonstrate the full potential of the technology to deliver key net zero outcomes with the support of our stakeholders, culminating in a comprehensive life-cycle assessment and commercialisation roadmap. Through a co-created and co-delivered cross-disciplinary approach we will ensure that the broader impacts and unintended consequences of our technology are fully understood, benefiting from continuous stakeholder engagement to accelerate net zero outcomes.