Performance assessment of using ammonia-fired internal combustion engine cogeneration modules in district heating

In this paper, an assessment of opportunities is performed for using ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel for internal combustion engine-based cogeneration. A short review of the state of the art in the field of using ammonia in internal combustion engines is presented. Then the issue of engine performance when fuelled with ammonia is discussed and the results of own experiments are briefly outlined. In the next step, two scenarios of the evolution of the Polish energy system and the market are developed. In the last part of the study, the cogeneration technology is proposed for a base load of a sample district heating system. The ammonia-fired and natural-gas-fired cogeneration systems are compared by means of variable heat production costs. The results revealed that it is potentially possible that around 2040 the ammonia-fired cogeneration technology may be an interesting option for district heating with the variable heat cost at level of 60–70 PLN/GJ in optimistic scenarios and 70–80 PLN/GJ in pessimistic scenarios and may be cheaper than heat from cogeneration based on other fuels. However, making decisions about the development of ammonia-fired IC engine cogeneration technology requires broad studies on the evolution of energy systems and markets in forthcoming years. Experimental research is also required to elaborate appropriate methods for engine performance assessment after the change of fuel. Overall, a holistic view is required of the potential decarbonisation options in the district heating sector. This may open a new research field, which has been not yet sufficiently addressed in the published literature.