RFNBO Ammonia Production: Integrating Techno-Economic Feasibility and REDII Compliance in a Computational Framework

Abstract

This master’s thesis investigates the feasibility of producing ammonia as a renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO) in line with the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) and its Delegated Regulations (EU) 2023/1184 and 2023/1185. A computational framework was developed to assess the techno-economic performance of Power-to-Ammonia (P2A) systems under strict regulatory constraints, including hourly correlation between renewable electricity use and generation, and a GHG emissions threshold of 28.2 gCO2eq/MJ fuel. The model simulates hourly mass and energy balances for fixed system configurations, comprising PV and wind power, battery and hydrogen storage, electrolysis, and the Haber-Bosch synthesis loop. Sensitivity analyses on renewable supply and storage integration show that high-yield wind assets significantly reduce ammonia production costs, while battery storage enhances HB process stability by minimizing shutdowns. Though economically less attractive, battery systems complement hydrogen storage by improving operational continuity. The model enables GHG tracking and regulatory compliance assessment, offering a transparent, rule-based alternative to optimization tools. The thesis concludes that RFNBO-compliant ammonia production is technically and economically viable under specific design conditions, supporting future green ammonia deployment in decarbonization strategies.