Andrea Mercado Guati Rojo

My research aims to examine and understand public perceptions and attitudes towards the use of ammonia for energy power, distribution and storage, especially within future energy systems. Ammonia (NH3) is perceived, by some, as the crucial element for the switch to green energy alternatives due to existing knowledge, infrastructure and the versatility of this gas. Currently NH3 production is based on natural gas, which contains carbon. However, excess of renewable power can be used to split water to produce hydrogen, which can be then combined with nitrogen, extracted from air, to make ammonia. This ammonia can be then stored and transported for future use as a zero-carbon fuel.

Nevertheless, public perceptions of NH3 might present a barrier to its development and deployment. Therefore, public perspectives should be examined at an early stage of technology. This project will be carried out across Mexico and the UK, providing an opportunity to examine potential deployment of ammonia projects in two different contexts