Complete supply chains: renewable ammonia production, transport, and export infrastructure in northern China
By on November 11, 2025
In our October Episode of Project Features, Liu Tianzhu (General Manager of Sales Department, China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd. or Energy China), and Chen Jianqiang (Vice President, Jiangsu Andefu or ADF) and Wang Chang (International Trade Department, Jiangsu Andefu or ADF) discussed their renewable ammonia production project in Songyuan, as well as ammonia export infrastructure via Panjin Port. The recording is available on our website, and you can also download the speaker presentations.
Renewable ammonia production in northern China
Click to enlarge. Q3 2025 updates on renewable ammonia projects in China and Uzbekistan. From Kevin Rouwenhorst, October 2025 Project Features introduction.
While numerous renewable ammonia projects based on solar PV and wind electricity have been announced globally over the past years, northern China is the first location where commercial-scale projects are now operational. This July, Envision Energy started its 300,000 tons per year renewable ammonia plant in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, based on mostly wind electricity. Japanese conglomerate Marubeni secured offtake from Envision’s renewable ammonia project in Chifeng. The project secured ISCC PLUS certification, as audited by Bureau Veritas. Also in July, Jilin Electric Power commissioned its Da’an project, with a renewable ammonia production of 180,000 tons per year. Various other renewable ammonia projects are currently under construction in Northern China, with additional capacity coming online in 2026, among which Energy China’s Songyuan project, phase I.
Energy China’s Songyuan project
CEEC (China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd.), also known as Energy China, is a state-owned energy conglomerate with a background in infrastructure projects. CEEC is globally active, and has delivered numerous renewable projects.
Click to enlarge. Overview of CEEC Hydrogen Energy’s Songyuan project, Phase I. From Liu Tianzhu, CEEC Hydrogen Energy: Innovative Engine for Global Hydrogen Energy (Oct 2025).
Through its subsidiary CEEC Hydrogen Energy, renewable hydrogen and derivatives projects are currently under construction, including a renewable ammonia production project in Songyuan in Jilin, northeast China. In 2024 CEEC Hydrogen Energy jointly initiated the establishment of the “Northeast Asia Green Bunkering Fuel Supply Chain Alliance”, which aims to establish a green maritime fuel bunkering hub in the region.
In its full scope, the Songyuan project will have 3 GW of newbuild renewable solar PV and wind, and is expected to produce a combined 800,000 tons of renewable ammonia and methanol (combined) annually. In the first phase of the project, about 158,000 tons of renewable ammonia will be produced each year. This is based on 590 MW of wind, and 50 MW of solar PV, with 50 MWh of batteries, and hydrogen storage. The total investment is about US$870 million. Construction of the project was completed at the end of September, with commercial operations targeted for January 2026.
The project is mainly powered by off-grid renewables, and supported by batteries and hydrogen buffer storage. A minimal grid connection is provided (“Ultra Mild Grid Connection”) to meet stability and cost requirements, with around 0.5% of the hydrogen production occurring with grid electricity. Grid electricity represents about 3% of the total power provided to the ammonia plant. As discussed in the webinar, during development Energy China found that 100% off-grid operations were unaffordable. Bureau Veritas has been invited for the certification audit, and the project is expected to be RFNBO-compliant.
Click to enlarge. Timeline of the Songyuan project, Phase I. From Liu Tianzhu, CEEC Hydrogen Energy: Innovative Engine for Global Hydrogen Energy (Oct 2025).
Songyuan is supported by the national government and local government. In March 2024, the project was selected as one of the Green and Low-carbon Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects by the National Development and Reform Commission. In August 2025, the project was also selected as one of the Green Liquid Fuel Technology Innovation and Industrialization Pilot Projects by the National Energy Administration (NEA). It is important to note that this support is currently regulatory and approvals-based: no government subsidies are available yet.
After the Phase I, it is expected that CEEC Hydrogen Energy’s Songyuan project will have a Phase II with around 311,000 tons of renewable ammonia production, at an investment of around $1.6 billion. Furthermore, CEEC Hydrogen Energy is developing a 123,000 tons of renewable ammonia project in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, at an investment of around $575 million.
Jiangsu Andefu: Ammonia storage and transport export infrastructure in Panjin Port
Click to enlarge. Jiangsu Andefu’s ammonia storage and transport projects throughout China. From Chen Jianqiang, Green Ammonia: The Energy Solution for the Zero-Carbon Era (Oct 2025).
The renewable ammonia from Songyuan will be transported to Panjin Port, located on Liaodong Bay in northern China. CEEC co-owns the ammonia storage and transport terminal in Panjin Port with Jiangsu Andefu (ADF). ADF entered the ammonia supply chain sector in 2006, and became China’s first exporter of liquid ammonia in 2011. ADF owns over 200 trucks for ammonia and other chemical transport, as well as the 5,500 m3 capacity, semi-refrigerated, semi-pressurised ammonia gas carrier Sheng Hang Yong Le. Its Nanjing ammonia tank farm, scheduled to be operational by the end of 2025, will feature one 49,000 m3 low-temperature tank, and two 3,000 m3 ambient-temperature spherical tanks.
Initially, transport from Songyuan to Panjin port will occur via trucks carrying 25 tons of ammonia each. Subject to government approvals, trains with rail tank cars (RTCs) carrying 50 tons of ammonia each will be utilized. A train with 20 RTCs could carry around 1,000 tons of ammonia, requiring train transport from the Songyuan plant about every other day.
ADF is planning various ammonia storage and transport terminals along the coast of China. The ammonia storage and transport hub in Panjin port (with Energy China) will be able to export renewable ammonia from production projects in Inner Mongolia, Liaoning and Jilin. ADF is also planning ammonia storage and transport hubs in other regions along the Chinese coast, ranging from Liaoning in the Bohai Rim, to Nanjing and Shandong in the east of China, and to Fujian and Guangxi in the south of China.