EverWind Fuels and Svitzer have signed an MoU to deploy an ammonia-powered commercial tug in the Canso Strait, adjacent to Point Tupper: the location of EverWind’s under-development hydrogen & ammonia production hub.
The Biden administration has launched a $7 billion funding program to create regional clean hydrogen hubs across the US. Between six and ten applications will be selected, drawing on a diverse range of geographical locations, technology pathways and end-use applications. Alongside the funding announcement, the Department of Energy launched a draft of a new national hydrogen roadmap, outlining the key opportunities on offer for the emerging US clean hydrogen industry.
Green NortH2 Energy, Meriaura and Wärtsilä will develop a cargo vessel capable of running on ammonia fuel. Propelled by Wärtsilä multi-fuel engines, the vessel will be owned and operated by Meriaura, with Green NortH2 Energy to supply renewable ammonia fuel from its to-be-built production plant in Naantali, southwest Finland.
Realisation of electrochemical nitrogen reduction to ammonia has proven to be a herculean scientific challenge. Recently, a focus on Lithium-mediated synthesis has delivered promising results. Last year a team from Monash University in Australia unveiled their phosphonium “proton shuttle” method, and this year have reported nearly 100% Faradaic efficiency for the reaction (with promising reaction rates). Late last year, a team from the Technical University of Demark (DTU) reported that addition of small amounts of oxygen gas drastically increased Faradaic efficiencies and production rates. The results push electrochemical synthesis R&D ever-closer to elusive benchmarks set for commercial realisation.
Mission Possible Partnership has launched a new transition strategy for the global ammonia sector. Endorsed by a series of key ammonia energy players from across the supply chain, Making net-zero ammonia possible sets out a series of levers, mechanisms and priorities for the coming decade to ensure the ammonia sector achieves a 50% emissions reduction target by the mid 2030s, before almost fully decarbonising by 2050.
The European Parliament has recently voted on key changes to the Renewable Energy Directive II. The changes include new renewable fuel targets for industry, scrapping the “additionality” clause, and easing temporal & geographical restrictions on electricity PPAs for hydrogen production. A new, €3 billion Hydrogen Bank has also been announced in a bid to close the investment gap in Europe.
Korea Zinc, Hanwha Impact, SK Gas and Australia-based Ark Energy will work together to build a million-tonne-per-year renewable ammonia supply chain between Korea and Australia by 2032. Ark Energy’s renewable energy portfolio in Queensland will be leveraged for ammonia production, with the three South Korean organisations acting as offtakers. The announcement comes as the Qld state government launches an ambitious new energy plan, which will support the addition of 20-plus GW of renewable energy generation to Qld’s grid.
ENGIE has successfully reached a final investment decision on Project Yuri. The collaboration with Yara will see renewable hydrogen feedstock produced next door to Yara’s existing ammonia & fertiliser production facility in Karratha, Western Australia, with construction to commence this year, and production of renewable hydrogen to begin in 2024.
In further developments, Yuri has new stakeholders, with Mitsui & Co. securing a 28% interest stake in Yuri, and Technip Energy being selected to lead EPCC works. And in certification news, the Smart Energy Council also announced it has granted pre-certification for renewable hydrogen & ammonia production from Project Yuri, under the Zero Carbon Certification Scheme.
US-based First Ammonia has announced a new reservation deal with Topsoe for delivery of solid-oxide electrolysers. Initially, First Ammonia will purchase 500 MW of SOECs from Topsoe’s new manufacturing plant in Herning, Denmark, with the option to expand to 5 GW over the lifetime of the agreement. That initial 500 MW will be deployed over two First Ammonia production projects, both targeting commercial operations in 2025: one in northern Germany, and one in southwest USA.
At Vlissingen in the Netherlands, Uniper & Vesta Terminals will explore the feasibility of developing a new ammonia import hub in northwest Europe, based on Vesta’s existing 60,000m3 ammonia storage facility. Also this week, Proton Ventures is currently developing a state-of-the-art ammonia export terminal for an oil & gas major in the UAE, which will feature the “biggest ammonia tanks ever built in the Middle East”.