India-based Essar Group will invest $2.4 billion on low-carbon projects at the Stanlow refinery complex near Liverpool, UK. As part of this investment, Essar and Stanlow Terminals will jointly develop an ammonia import terminal. The site will feature deep-water access, cracking facilities and the capacity to handle more than one million tonnes of ammonia imports per year from Gujarat, India.
Momentum is building to establish a domestic renewable ammonia sector in India. To explore opportunities and outline key next steps, we are joined by ACME Group, University College London, and the India Hydrogen Alliance.
ACME and IHI will assess the feasibility of potential joint projects in the ammonia energy space, including production, transportation, distribution, and power generation. Also this week, IHI and GE have presented their findings from an ammonia-powered gas turbine feasibility study, with some favorable fuel economics for ammonia.
India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission includes more than $2 billion in direct government subsidies for both electrolyser manufacturing & the domestic production of electrolytic hydrogen using renewable electricity. On the ammonia front, ammonia-based fertiliser imports are set to be completely replaced by domestic production in 2034-5, and all major Indian ports will be required to establish ammonia bunkering & refueling facilities by 2035.
Greenko has ordered 140 MW of electrolysers from John Cockerill for its under-development renewable ammonia plant in northern India. Last year the pair agreed to build an electrolyser gigafactory in Kakinada, southern India, which will also be home to a Greenko renewable ammonia production plant. Phase one of the Kakinada project will produce 250,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia, with Uniper to act as exclusive off-taker for the ammonia product.
The pair will explore a new, 250,000-tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia production facility in India, powered by 1.3 GW of solar, wind and pumped hydro generating capacity. The ammonia will be used for “demand for low carbon energy” in India and Singapore, and also as bunker fuel. In related news, Indian energy major Jakson Green has announced it will build a $2.8 billion, 365,000 tonnes per year renewable ammonia production plant in Kota, northern India.
