CONFETI team tests field urea production system powered by solar and biobatteries
The CONFETI project team has commissioned a pilot system in Viladecans to produce nitrogen fertilizer directly in agricultural fields using renewable energy.
Pilot system operates outdoors
Researchers have successfully brought an experimental setup out of the laboratory and into a real farming environment. This installation combines solar panels with biobatteries to run an electrochemical reactor that creates urea from carbon dioxide and nitrates. A separate photochemical unit within the same structure generates ammonia using sunlight as its power source.
Project reaches major milestone
The consortium finished three years of work to achieve this operational status for the prototype device. Gonzalo Guirado, who leads the chemistry department at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, described moving the equipment as a significant challenge. The group now monitors how the machinery handles heavy rain and summer heat while testing its durability.
Future performance studies continue
Scientists are currently analyzing data gathered during recent weather events to understand long-term reliability in open fields. They aim to explore alternatives to standard methods for making nitrogen fertilizer used widely in farming today. The team will keep the system running to gather more information before wider deployment.
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