A NEW technology which harnesses lightning’s nitrogen-fixing properties is being developed which could revolutionise fertiliser production.

The UK’s Agri-Tech Centres are working with innovative start-up Debye Ltd to trial its groundbreaking system, which simulates lightning’s ability to capture nitrogen in the form of nitrates when it strikes water.

Debye envisages modular and container systems sited on farms or hubs, giving farmers on-the-spot or local supply of nitrate-based fertiliser using only air, water and electricity.

The 18-month feasibility R and D project is taking place on lettuce crops in Agri-Tech Centre CHAP’s vertical farming facility at Stockbridge, with fellow Centre Agri-EPI providing project management and life-cycle analysis, measuring the product’s environmental and economical sustainability at each stage of its development.

The objective is to develop a one-kilowatt proof-of-concept prototype which can be compared against standard fertiliser. If the trial is successful, Debye could undertake small-scale pilot projects on a farm setting within three years, subject to funding. The project is funded by Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council’s Novel low-emission food production systems: Feasibility studies competition.

Burak Karadag, who developed the technology, was originally a space engineer, working on satellite propulsion, when he became interested in the properties of lightning and realised that he would like to see how he could apply space technology to grand challenges on earth.

Mr Karadag said: “Fertiliser is critical to global food security, but current production methods cause environmental harm and are subject to market disruption.

“Our technology harnesses nature’s own elegant solution: lightning strikes water with such energy that it breaks apart atmospheric nitrogen molecules, creating nitrogen dioxide, which is soluble in water and readily absorbed by plants.

“Our technology replicates these principles using only air, water and electricity.”

Mr Karadag added: “Farmers rely mostly on ammonia-based fertiliser, whose economic model relies on mid to large-scale production using natural gas with well-documented negative effects on air, soil and water quality.”Manufacturers are trying to move to green hydrogen reduce the fertiliser’s carbon footprint, but local, renewably powered direct nitrogen capture technology could make it a near zero-emission process, locally and securely available and with far better soil health outcomes.

“Today’s synthetic fertiliser production accounts for five per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to half the total emissions produced by the EU27 in 2021. Just imagine if we could remove those emissions! Being a rocket scientist was undeniably exciting, but I was so motivated by the challenge of tackling climate change and enhancing food security through innovation that I was glad to make the career shift to agriculture.”