# TEA breakdown: green ammonia and synthetic methane

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2024-11-21
- Length: 40m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane

## Summary

Shayle Khan, Dr. Melissa Ball, and Dr. Greg Thiel of Energy Impact Partners (EIP) conduct a technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of green ammonia and synthetic methane, explaining why EIP has not yet invested in these sectors due to challenging economics. They break down the cost stacks, highlighting that energy costs for hydrogen production via electrolysis and capital expenditures for scaling down traditional Haber-Bosch processes are the primary barriers to cost-competitiveness. The discussion covers novel approaches like lower-temperature reactors and the specific cost drivers for synthetic methane, including the prohibitive costs of hydrogen and CO2 sources relative to natural gas benchmarks.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=1) Introduction: TEA and Green Ammonia Basics
- [6:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=361) Green Ammonia Process and Hydrogen Buffering Costs
- [11:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=714) Ammonia Cost Stack: Energy and Capital Expenditures
- [15:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=945) Novel Ammonia Synthesis and Decentralization Challenges
- [26:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=1615) Synthetic Methane Production and Economics
- [37:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2024-11-21-tea-breakdown-green-ammonia-and-synthetic-methane#t=2262) Key Takeaways and Future Outlook

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Haber-Bosch (other)
- Steam Methane Reforming (other)
- Electrolyzer (tool)
- Air Separation Unit (tool)

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- [The Future of Energy: Generating Sustainable Natural Gas with Casey Handmer of Terraform Industries Part 2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-12-19-the-future-of-energy-generating-sustainable-natural-gas-with-casey-handmer-of-te) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
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## Citing this page

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