Offshore renewable ammonia production on the horizon
By on January 28, 2025
SwitcH2 & CorPower Ocean: wave-powered ammonia production
Click to learn more. SwitcH2’s floating ammonia production facility will be powered by a mix of wind, solar and wave energy in Portugal. The facility will produce 300,000 tons of ammonia annually. Source: SwitcH2 Offshore.
In partnership with CorPower Ocean, SwitcH2 has announced plans to develop a 300,000 tons per year renewable ammonia production facility in northern Portugal. The facility will be based on SwitcH2’s floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) technology and has received grant funding from the Dutch government. It is expected to come online by 2029.
SwitcH2’s NH3-FPSO technology, which has already received Approval in Principle from DNV, features a newbuild vessel about the size of a VLCC, with a 300 MW on-deck electrolysis plant. Ammonia is also produced on deck, temporarily stored in pressurised tanks and transported to the shore via dedicated “shuttle” vessels. In this project, ammonia production will be powered by a mix of wind, solar and wave energy based on CorPower’s technology.
As part of its GW-scale ambition, SwitcH2 is also exploring potential projects in West Africa for ammonia exports to Northwestern Europe, and in the North Sea for the Dutch market.
We are extremely pleased with our collaboration with CorPower Ocean as integrating their promising wave energy adds economic benefits to our already competitive offshore production system. Jointly we look at a buoyant market for green ammonia which is set to expand 6-fold between now and 2050. Our project will contribute to decarbonize also hard to abate sectors such as global shipping.
A floating production system is by definition a mobile asset which we will build where this is cheapest and which can be deployed around the globe, wherever we have access to attractively priced wind, wave, and/or solar energy.
Saskia Kunst, SwitcH2 Director and co-founder, in CorPower’s official press release, 2 December 2024
Wave energy is one of the largest untapped energy source in the world. It’s renewable, accessible, and abundant. Crucially, it’s also highly consistent bringing greater stability to the clean energy mix, enabling 24/7 renewable electricity supply allowing industrial processes like this to run at high utilization. We look forward to working with fellow tech pioneer SwitcH2 with a shared vision for a cleaner, brighter future powered by renewables.
Kevin Rebenius, CorPower Ocean Commercial Director, in his organisation’s official press release, 2 December 2024
Samsung Heavy Industries & Lloyd’s Register
Still on floating production, Lloyd’s Register (LR) and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have signed an MoU to jointly develop a renewable ammonia floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) system.
The FPSO units will produce electrolytic hydrogen powered by wind energy from European offshore wind farms, and the ammonia produced will be offloaded to ammonia carriers. As part of the agreement, SHI will design the FPSO while LR will conduct reviews and provide technical advice for design improvement.
The green ammonia market is poised to grow rapidly in the coming decades, particularly as a clean fuel alternative for the global shipping industry. LR is looking forward to collaborating with SHI to help meet this demand.
Sean van der Post, LR’s Offshore Business Director, in his organisation’s official press release, 15 November 2024
MISC and Gentari: ammonia shipping and floating solutions
MISC and Gentari Hydrogen have also signed a collaborative agreement to jointly explore the development of integrated shipping and floating solutions for clean ammonia, targeting completion by 2027.
The two parties will conduct a study focusing on strengthening infrastructure for ammonia transportation and the implementation of end-to-end logistics. The partnership will leverage MISC’s shipping and floating solutions expertise, and Gentari’s clean hydrogen and ammonia production focus.
The solutions we are developing with Gentari Hydrogen will be game-changing for the maritime industry, offering integrated approaches that enhance efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Together, we will drive innovation in the way clean ammonia is transported globally and enhancing Malaysia’s standing as a forward-looking maritime and energy hub.
Zahid Osman, MISC President and CEO, in his organisation’s official press release, 26 November 2024
This collaboration marks an important step in laying the foundation for a robust clean ammonia value chain, subsequently enabling quicker decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors. By developing innovative ammonia shipping solutions, we are addressing critical infrastructure needs and paving the way for ammonia to become a key energy carrier in the global transition towards a sustainable future.
Michèle Azalbert, Gentari’s Chief Hydrogen Officer, in MISC’s official press release, 26 November 2024