Techno-Economic Assessment of Renewably Powered Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction for a Sustainable Nitrogen Cycle

作者：Biyu Kang, Mingshuo Jiao, Fengting Li, Zhenhai Wen, Chao Zhang, Ying Wang · 发表于：ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1021/acssuschemeng.5c06239 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Ammonia Synthesis and Nitrogen Reduction、Hydrogen Storage and Materials、Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (eNO 3 RR) exhibits substantial potential in eliminating waste NO 3 – by selectively converting it into N 2 or valuable resources NH 3 . Since eNO 3 RR has made rapid progress recently, it is vital to conduct a systematic evaluation of its feasibility. Herein, we provide a comprehensive techno-economic assessment (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of eNO 3 RR and propose economically and environmentally favorable thresholds to systematically guide its industrial-scale implementation. Sensitivity analysis suggests that current density is the most crucial factor for N 2, showing an even greater impact than electricity price, while voltage ranks second only to electricity price for NH 3, highlighting optimization priorities. The profitability of eNO 3 RR-to-NH 3 at $0.03/kWh depends on the progression of performance: the full-cell energy efficiency exceeds 50% at a current density >500 mA/cm². Through continuous technological optimization, the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) is projected to decrease from $0.92/kg to $0.14/kg, substantially below current NH 3 market prices. LCA reveals that renewable-electricity-powered eNO 3 RR achieves near-zero global warming potential (GWP, <0.4 kg CO 2 e/kg NO 3 – -N), offering superior decarbonization compared to conventional wastewater treatment (WWTP) and Haber-Bosch (H–B) processes.