Journal of Central European Agriculture (Jul 2006)
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATION OF PRODUCING FERTILIZER FROM COAL-FIRED FLUE GAS: APPLICATION OF BULGARIAN EXPERIENCE TO CASE STUDY OF PORTUGAL
Abstract
A Bulgarian project at Maritsa East power station demonstrated the proper transformation of air pollutants (SOx and NOx) into nitrogen fertilizer. Although this technology has not been put into practice in Bulgaria, it seems feasible on an industrial scale and so it may help to ease Portugal’s reliance on imports of nitrogen fertilizer and thereby contain the outfl ow of Portuguese funds. The data collected from the Maritsa East project are therefore applied to discuss a case study of Amarante thermal power station in Portugal, which annually imports 27 million Euro of nitrogen fertilizer. The agricultural sector indicates it is willing to support 20% of the plant installation cost and 100% of the operating cost at a thermal power station. Thus, a Portuguese farmer can obtain by-product fertilizer that is cheaper than commercial fertilizer at current prices as compensation for fi nancial support of fertilizer production at a thermal power station.
