Yara has officially opened its new ammonia import terminal in Germany, with enough capacity to handle 3 million tons of ammonia imports per year. In France, Trammo will support the redevelopment of a section of Elengy’s Fos Tonkin LNG terminal into an ammonia import location, including construction of an ammonia storage tank, rail access and bunkering facilities.
As shown in the IEA’s recently released Global Hydrogen Review 2024, the cumulative hydrogen production capacity reaching Final Investment Decision has doubled compared to last year. Promisingly, low-emission ammonia comprises a significant portion of both the mature project pipeline and secured offtake volume.
The recent Symposium on Ammonia Energy in Shanghai showcased the latest ammonia energy R&D, including cutting-edge work on catalysts, direct ammonia combustion, large-scale co-firing and industrial ceramics production.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has announced an official ammonia co-firing strategy to decarbonise power generation, aiming at achieving at least 10% co-firing by 2027. To address the gap between ammonia fuel demand and domestic production, multiple funding and permitting assistance programs are being led by the NDRC.
India-based integrated power utility Torrent Power Limited will invest over $7.6 billion in renewable energy generation and ammonia production in Gujarat. Momentum for renewable ammonia continues to build in India, with related news on certification and electrolyser manufacturing subsidies.
Pupuk Indonesia will collaborate with TOYO and ITOCHU to develop a hybrid renewable ammonia plant at an existing production facility in western Indonesia. Via a subsidiary, Pupuk will also supply renewable ammonia to PLN Indonesia Power’s co-firing demonstration project in west Java.
Liebherr and Italy-based Bruno Generators will embark on a joint development project exploring ammonia fuel for off-grid power generation in the mining sector. Building off “promising” results in Liebherr’s own internal trials with ammonia fuel, future applications could include power for heavy vehicles like electric excavators.
The American Bureau of Shipping has granted AiP for two new autonomous technology packages developed by Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and Hyundai Heavy Industries: an unmanned ammonia engine room, plus an AI safety package with rapid-response capabilities.
A series of new AiPs underlines momentum for marine ammonia fuel. For bunkering, barges and a range of jetty-less transfer terminals will enable safe operations. Fuel systems that can be retrofitted to existing vessels are also under development, as is an ammonia-powered “feeder” container vessel to complement larger designs.
Approval of interim guidelines for the use of maritime ammonia fuel is anticipated at an upcoming IMO committee meeting in December, giving the shipping industry its first international standard for the safe operation of vessels using marine ammonia fuel.