NICCEE logo

Global Nitrogen Innovation Center for Clean Energy and the Environment

Virtual Farm: Green Ammonia Installation

This interactive Virtual Reality (VR) tool was created to foster a better understanding of green ammonia in agriculture. By moving through a virtual farm setting featuring a green ammonia installation, you’ll be able to explore four key areas:

  • Green Ammonia Production Unit – Learn about green vs. grey ammonia, how green ammonia is produced, annual production and cost estimates, and get a sneak peek into the inside of a green ammonia production unit.
  • Solar Panel Area – Learn about energy generation from solar panels to power green ammonia production, solar panel lifespans and upfront costs, and other renewable energy sources.
  • Crop Field – Learn about fertilizer application methods, nitrogen usage estimates for specific crops, and environmental implications of nitrogen fertilizer use.
  • More Info! – Learn about safety tips for handling anhydrous ammonia, recommended practices, other technological advances, and current real-world green ammonia projects.

Using the VR Tool

Screen shot of VR green ammonia farm tool showing barn and crop rows

To start

Wait for the VR Tool to load.
Use the blue box in the bottom-right to maximize the screen (optional).
Click the sign that says “Click me to start!” to begin.

Navigation

To move around, use the arrow keys (or WASD).
To look around, move your mouse.

To end

To exit, press “Esc” on your keyboard and close the tab.

Interaction

To use pop-ups, left click on your mouse making sure your cursor (the cross in the middle of your screen) is pointed at a sign.

Developed by Jason Haley, NICCEE intern and undergraduate student. Last updated August 2025.
Questions or comments? Contact us.  

The current version of the NICCEE Virtual Farm is only compatible with desktop browsers.

Thank you to Zhuo Wang and the University of Maryland (UMD) Central Maryland Research & Education Center (CMREC) Upper Marlboro Facility for facilitating the 360˚ photo used as the background. 

  1. Zhang, X. et al. (2024). Nitrogen management during decarbonization. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. 5. 10.1038/s43017-024-00586-2. 
  2. The Royal Society. (2020, February). Ammonia: Zero-carbon fertiliser, fuel and Energy Store. https://royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/green-ammonia/green-ammonia-policy-briefing.pdf 
  3. Wang, Y. (2025). Green Ammonia fact sheet. https://niccee.org/niccee-team/innovation-team/
  4. GlobeNewswire. (2024). Fuelpositive announces completion of factory acceptance testing and shipping of first commercial system | FuelPositive. https://fuelpositive.com/fuelpositive-announces-completion-of-factory-acceptance-testing-and-shipping-of-first-commercial-system/ 
  5. PR Newswire. (2023). Talus Renewables Announces $22 Million Raised in Series A Financing. Talus Renewables. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/talus-renewables-announces-22-million-raised-in-series-a-financing-301974223.html#:~:text=Talus%20will%20deliver%20multiple%20talusOne,Company%20in%20the%20Kenya%20Highlands
  6. Innovation News Network (2023). Proton Ventures: Your trusted partner for the green ammonia value chain. Proton Ventures. https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/proton-ventures-your-trusted-partner-green-ammonia-value-chain/36405/
  7. AmmPower (2025). The IAMM: Independent Ammonia Making Machine. https://www.iamm.green/
  8. FuelPositive (2025). Manufacturing the World’s First Farmer-owned Green Ammonia System. https://fuelpositive.com/sales/
  9. St. John, J. (2025). Can locally made green ammonia replace fertilizer from fossil fuels? Canary Media. https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/hydrogen/can-locally-made-green-ammonia-replace-fertilizer-from-fossil-fuels
  10. LandUs (2024). Rural Matters: Grand Opening of Boone Fertilizer Facility. https://www.landus.ag/posts/rural-matters-grand-opening-of-boone-fertilizer-facility
  11. Rechreche, J. (2025). Why does green ammonia struggle to kick-off, & what can we do about it? Proton Ventures. https://protonventures.com/news/why-does-green-ammonia-struggle-to-kick-off-what-can-we-do-about-it/
  12. AmmPower (2025). The IAMM: Independent Ammonia Making Machine. https://www.iamm.green/
  13. Tonelli, D., Rosa, L., Gabrielli, P. et al. (2024). Cost-competitive decentralized ammonia fertilizer production can increase food security. Nat Food 5, 469–479. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-00979-y
  14. Dogan E. & Dincer I. (2024). A quicker route to hydrogen economy with ammonia. International Journal of Hydrogen Economy. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319924032191
  15. North Alabama Solar (2022). Integrating Solar Power with Existing Farm Infrastructure. https://www.nalabamasolar.com/blog/integrating-solar-power-with-existing-farm-infrastructure
  16. Nwaigwe, K.N., Mutabilwa, P., Dintwa E. (2019). An overview of solar power (PV systems) integration into electricity grids. Materials Science for Energy Technologies. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589299119300576
  17. Compass Energy Storage (2025). Energy Storage and Renewable Energy: A Perfect Match for a Greener World. https://compassenergystorage.com/energy-storage-and-renewable-energy/
  18. Sodhi, M., Banaszek, L., Magee C., Rivero-Hudec, M. (2022). Economic Lifetimes of Solar Panels. Procedia CIRP. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212827122001317
  19. HBOWA (2025). Are Solar Farms Profitable in 2025? Breaking Down Costs, ROI, and Land Us. https://www.pretapower.com/are-solar-farms-profitable-in-2025-breaking-down-costs-roi-and-land-us/
  20. De la Hera, G., Ruiz Gutiérrez, G., Viguri, J., Galán, B. (2024). Flexible Green Ammonia Production Plants: Small-Scale Simulations Based on Energy Aspects. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/11/4/71
  21. Maguire, G. (2025). Key US electricity price and output trends so far in 2025. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/key-us-electricity-price-output-trends-so-far-2025-2025-07-23/
  22. United States Environmental Protection Agency (2024). Green Power Markets – Frequently Asked Questions. https://www.epa.gov/green-power-markets/frequently-asked-questions
  23. Chen, L. et al. (2014). On-Farm Comparison of Two Dairy Manure Application Methods in Terms of Ammoniaand Odor Emissions and Costs. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287298441_On-farm_comparison_of_two_dairy_manure_application_methods_in_terms_of_ammonia_and_odor_emissions_and_costs
  24. LPELC Admin (2019). Manure Application Method and Timing Effects on Emission of Ammonia and Nitrous Oxide. https://lpelc.org/manure-application-method-and-timing-effects-on-emission-of-ammonia-and-nitrous-oxide/
  25. Tenuta, M. (2025). Presentation – Nitrogen Fertilizer Forms. NICCEE Nitrogen Summer Institute 2025. https://niccee.org/nitrogen-summer-institute/jun-2025/video-highlights/
  26. Baum, M. et al. (2025). The optimum nitrogen fertilizer rate for maize in the US Midwest is increasing. Nature Communications. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-55314-7
  27. Maharjan, B. et al. (2017). Fertilizer Management for Winter Wheat. University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2017/fertilizer-management-winter-wheat/
  28. Kaiser, D. & Piotrowski, K. (2024). Fertilizing canola in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/crop-specific-needs/canola-fertilizer-guidelines
  29. Spark Climate Solutions (2025). Nitrogen 2.0: The Next Generation of Nitrogen Management in Food Production Systems. https://www.sparkclimate.org/page/nitrogen-2-0
  30. Metaxoglou, K. & Smith, A. (2024). Agriculture’s Nitrogen Legacy. https://files.asmith.ucdavis.edu/water_draft_legacy.pdf
  31. Fernandez F. & Kaiser D. (2021). Understanding nitrogen in soils.  University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/crop-specific-needs/canola-fertilizer-guidelines
  32. SARE Outreach (2016). Keeping Fertilizer in the Ground and Out of the Air. Sustainable Agriculture and Research Education. https://www.sare.org/publications/2015-2016-report-from-the-field/western-sare/keeping-fertilizer-in-the-ground-and-out-of-the-air/
  33. Ferland D. et al. (2024). Improved nitrogen fertilizer management reduces nitrous oxide emissions in a northern Prairie cropland. Science of the Total Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724073686
  34. Wilson, T., Warren, J., Arnall B. (2017). Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Soil. Oklahoma State University Extension. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/nitrous-oxide-emissions-from-soil.html
  35. Jwaideh M., Sutanudjaja, E., Dalin, C. (2022). Global impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser use for major crops on aquatic biodiversity. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11367-022-02078-1
  36. Hu, Z. et al. (2024). Nutrient-induced acidification modulates soil biodiversity-function relationships. Nature Communications. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10991381/
  37. Nowatzki, J. (2021). Anhydrous Ammonia: Managing The Risks. North Dakota State University. https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/anhydrous-ammonia-managing-risks
  38. Ohioline: College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences (2019). Safe Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-59149
  39. Minnesota Department of Agriculture (2025). Physical & Chemical Properties of Anhydrous Ammonia. https://www.mda.state.mn.us/physical-chemical-properties-anhydrous-ammonia#:~:text=Weight,has%20the%20chemical%20formula%20NH3
  40. US Department of Labor (2025). Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.111
  41. Natural Resources Conservation Service (2011). Nutrient Management. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-06/stelprdb1046177.pdf
  42. Iqbal, J. Little, R., Thompson, L. (2021). Using Cover Crops to Reduce Nitrate Leaching in the Waverly Wellhead Protection Area. University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2021/using-cover-crops-reduce-nitrate-leaching-waverly-wellhead-protection-area/
  43. Farmomaut (2025). Unlock the Power of Precision Agriculture: A Comprehensive Guide to Soil Testing for Optimized Forage Fertilizer Management. https://farmonaut.com/precision-farming/precision-agriculture-7-tips-for-optimized-forage-fertilizer
  44. Wang, Y. (2025). Green Ammonia fact sheet. https://niccee.org/niccee-team/innovation-team/
  45. Ellis, D. (2025). CF Industries and partners confirm $4bn blue ammonia plant. Gasworld. https://www.gasworld.com/story/cf-industries-and-partners-confirm-4bn-blue-ammonia-plant/2154457.article/
  46. GreenLightning (2025). About Our Technology. https://www.greenlightning.ag/about-our-technology-1
  47. PR Newswire (2023). Kenya Nut Company Installs First Commercial On-Site Green Ammonia System for Carbon-Free Fertilizer Production. Talus Renewables. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kenya-nut-company-installs-first-commercial-on-site-green-ammonia-system-for-carbon-free-fertilizer-production-302002715.html
  48. FuelPositive. (2024). First Scalable Green Ammonia Production System Successfully Installed On Manitoba Farm. https://fuelpositive.com/fuelpositive-announces-completion-of-factory-acceptance-testing-and-shipping-of-first-commercial-system/ 
  49. Tullo, A. (2023). CF planning green ammonia in Oklahoma. Chemical & Engineering News. https://cen.acs.org/energy/hydrogen-power/CF-planning-green-ammonia-Oklahoma/101/i14