Is ammonia the fuel of the future? If a move by companies to use the chemical to power irrigation motors is any indication, it could be possible. Hydrogen Engine Center, Inc. of Algona, Iowa, will collaborate with Corcoran, California-based Sawtelle & Rosprim to create the engines. Current irrigation engines, which are used to power large agricultural irrigation systems are primarily diesel powered.

A prototype of the engine could be tested in California during the 2007 irrigation season, the Associated Press (AP) reports. HEC plans to release the engine onto the market in 2008.

Ammonia, also known as anhydrous ammonia, can be stored like propane and is commonly used in agricultural fertilization today. It contains no carbon and gives off no harmful emissions, according to the press release.

“With the success of this project, we hope to move ammonia-fueled engines into the generator market,” HEC President Ted Hollinger commented in the press release.

Nicole Kemna, inside sales representative for HEC, also indicated the advantages of ammonia as a fuel. Kemna told Outside Online that there is already a storage and transportation system, and use and safety regulations in place, making distribution of the second most prevalent chemical a snap as ammonia pipelines can be found through the United States.

The obvious question is whether it will be a solution economically, Hollinger told the AP. Ammonia is derived predominately from natural gas, which attaches its costs to the fluctuation of the natural gas market.

“We believe that the demonstration of this engine will complete years of development work and will allow the sale of our systems worldwide without concerns about hydrogen storage, cost, availability, or permitting,” Hollinger, who refers to ammonia as the other hydrogen, concluded in the press release.

HEC has already established their Oxx Power engine line, which runs off a multitude of alternative fuels, including hydrogen. Ammonia as an engine fuel, according to the press release, seemed like the logical progression, but whether or not ammonia-powered engines will power your SUV sometime in the future, anyone can tell.

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