Análisis tecnoeconómico de un sistema Power-to-X (PtX) para la producción de amoníaco verde a partir de energía eólica costa afuera en Colombia

Abstract

This study presents a techno-economic analysis of a Power-to-X (PtX) system for the production of green ammonia in Colombia, using offshore wind energy as the main source. This research arises from the need to advance toward a mandatory energy transition to meet the commitments of the Paris Agreement, in response to the continuous increase in global temperatures due to CO₂ emissions. Additionally, it aims to provide alternatives that eliminate the country's strong dependence on ammonia imports for fertilizer production, a situation that worsened with the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which led to a sharp increase in import prices of this compound and directly affected the national economy by significantly raising fertilizer costs. The analysis focuses on three zones of the Colombian coast (eastern, central, and western), where the wind farm and the ammonia generation system share the same characteristics but differ in generation capacity and energy input for each zone. To develop the design of the wind farm and the ammonia generation system, an exhaustive investigation of the main technologies involved was conducted, considering factors such as technological maturity, market availability, economic impact, and efficiency, among others. The selection of technologies was based on a comprehensive analysis of research studies, projects, government reports, and operational catalogs. Once the technologies that make up the wind farm and the ammonia plant were established, a study of the wind potential of the three zones was carried out to determine the average amount of annual energy that could be generated in each one. Based on this data, mass and energy balances were developed to calculate the final ammonia production in each zone. Finally, with the system's investment and operational costs, energy input, ammonia production, and levelized cost of energy, the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) was estimated for each zone to determine which one offers the greatest economic viability.