The Ammonia Wrap: ICE announces its new green ammonia “SuperGiant”, Cummins and KBR team up on integrated solutions, a new green ammonia pilot in Minnesota and decarbonisation of existing plants in Russia
By Julian Atchison on May 19, 2021
Welcome to the Ammonia Wrap: a summary of all the latest announcements, news items and publications about ammonia energy. There’s so much news this edition that we’re bringing you two, special Wrap articles. Our first focuses on ammonia production – both existing and new build plants.
InterContinental Energy (ICE) to build 25 GW of green ammonia production in Oman
25 GW of wind and solar energy will power new green hydrogen and ammonia production in Oman, in a new venture between ICE, OQ and Enertech. Desalinated seawater will feed the installed electrolysers, which at final capacity will produce millions of tonnes of green hydrogen per year – with the option to convert to ammonia for transport and storage. Feasibility studies conducted since 2019 have confirmed the presence of world-class wind and solar resources at the project site, allowing for diurnal hydrogen production (ie. 24 hours a day). The project will also develop and support local expertise and careers in renewable energy, and make Oman a key player in the global supply chain for green ammonia.
And a quick update on ICE’s other green ammonia “SuperGiant”, the Asian Renewable Energy Hub. In an interview with S&P Global this month ICE Chief Strategy Officer Sacha Thacker confirmed that the AREH’s full first phase – 3 million tonnes per year of green ammonia production or one-third of full capacity – will be completed by 2031-2.
Cummins and KBR to collaborate on integrated green ammonia solutions
Cummins and KBR will team up to deliver commercially-available, turnkey, fully-integrated green ammonia production solutions based on KBR’s K-GreeN® system thanks to a new MoU. For their part, Cummins will focus on scaling their PEM electrolyser technology to meet all requirements for 250+ MW electrolysis projects.
New green ammonia pilot plant for Minnesota
A new consortium led by RTI International (which includes AEA members Casale, the University of Minnesota, Nutrien, Shell and Nel Hydrogen) will collaborate on a 1 tonne per day, fully-integrated, green ammonia pilot plant at the UMN West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota. The project is made possible by US$10 million in funding from the US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency Energy (ARPA-E), and will combine all the most promising technologies developed under ARPA-E’s REFUEL research program. The research developments and key players who have made this project possible have all been regular features in Ammonia Energy‘s reporting over the years – terrific to see so many threads coming together!
Stamicarbon launches new technology for sustainable fertilizer production in Kenya
Under a new deal, Stamicarbon will commercialise small-scale ammonia production technology from Argentinian-based organisation Raybite Ingeneria and incorporate it into the “Stamicarbon Green Ammonia Technology” package. Green Ammonia Technology is currently operating in four plants worldwide and will be the basis of a new, green power-to-fertiliser plant to be built in Kenya (project to be led by Stamicarbon parent company Maire Tecnimont). Stamicarbon will be giving insights into how their Green Ammonia Technology differs from traditional options at a public webinar on May 27: register here to learn more.
Haldor Topsoe and Shchekinoazot to explore ammonia plant decarbonisation in Russia
A new MoU between Haldor Topsoe and Shchekinoazot aims to reduce the carbon footprint of Shchekinoazot’s existing and future chemical manufacturing plants in Tula region, Russia. Together they’ll explore the possibilities of Shchekinoazot producing blue and green methanol, ammonia and hydrogen using Topsoe technology.
1 million tonne blue ammonia per year in Norway
And Horisont Energi has been awarded a grant from the Norwegian government towards a technology concept study for the Barents Blue ammonia project in Finnmark, northern Norway. The project (which will utilise Haldor Topsoe’s SynCOR Ammonia™ technology) will produce 1 million tonne blue ammonia per year once operational in 2025.
Trammo announces off-take MoU for 2GW AustriaEnergy plant in Chile
And Trammo, AustriaEnergy and Ökowind have signed an agreement for the off-take of green hydrogen and ammonia from the HNH project in Chile. A 2 GW wind park will produce 1 million tonnes of green ammonia per year at full capacity, with operations to begin within five years.
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