Ammonia-energy Plan In Works In Maine
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) ? Maine has been heavily involved in generating power from wind, and now Gov. John Baldacci is drawing attention to a plan to create ammonia as a green energy source.
Baldacci mentioned the Rockland-based Ocean Energy Institute's work during his State of the State speech Thursday. While most of the attention has gone to Maine's wind power projects, Baldacci said OEI founder Matt Simmons is working on an innovative approach to create a new energy source "almost literally out of thin air."
The process under study by OEI would create a propane-like energy source — ammonia — which has been used in Europe in the past to power cars and buses.
Under the process, hydrogen would be extracted from desalinated seawater or fresh water by means of renewable electricity created by wind farms, Simmons said, while nitrogen would be drawn from air. Putting the nitrogen together with hydrogen from water would create a reaction forming ammonia, he said.
Like propane, ammonia at moderately cold temperatures or modest pressure can be used as a fuel in combustion engines, gas turbines and even rocket engines, OEI said. When burned properly it produces pure water and nitrogen.
OEI Managing Director Robert West said Friday that the project's in the very early stages. A pilot project could be tied in with offshore wind power prototypes which are planned in the next few years. As an added bonus, excess wind power that can't be used right away would be used to make ammonia.
OEI is working with the federal Energy Department to get ammonia recognized as a fuel.
OEI is a member of a consortium led by the University of Maine that received an $8 million grant from the Energy Department for research and development of floating offshore wind turbine platforms in the Gulf of Maine. More than 30 private and public partners are part of the consortium.
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