A first in the Brazilian market, Yara has commenced the production of biomethane-based nitrate fertilisers at its Cubatão complex, reducing the carbon footprint by up to 75%. The first batch of the low carbon fertiliser has been delivered to coffee farmers in the Cooxupe cooperative.
In the first stage of Project Gaucho, 3 GW of electrolysers will be powered by a 4.2 GW wind farm, leading to the production of up to 1.7 million tons of ammonia per year. RP Global and German development agency GIZ will develop the project, supported by an official German government program for ramping up the nascent hydrogen industry.
Both have announced partnerships and production projects aimed at the decarbonisation of steel production. Utilizing a similar approach from their large-scale ammonia projects, the pair will develop hubs in Mauritania and Brazil, producing hot-briquetted iron for export to Europe.
As shown in the IEA’s recently released Global Hydrogen Review 2024, the cumulative hydrogen production capacity reaching Final Investment Decision has doubled compared to last year. Promisingly, low-emission ammonia comprises a significant portion of both the mature project pipeline and secured offtake volume.
Ammonia developers Prumo and Fuella have secured land in Port do Açu, Brazil for the development of a 400,000 tons per-year renewable ammonia production plant. Set to come online in 2030, the ammonia produced from the integrated facility will be used both locally and for export to Europe.
AustriaEnergy announced that it has successfully submitted an environmental impact study covering the first phase of its ammonia mega-project HNH Energy, and expects to receive approval by late 2025. As with all Chilean projects under-development, the submission represents a critical milestone, and construction is expected to start in 2027.
Yara has secured a long-term supply from ATOME’s Villeta project in Paraguay. Hydropower from the Itaipu Dam will power the production of electrolytic hydrogen, ammonia and then calcium ammonium nitrate fertiliser, which will be marketed and sold as part of Yara’s “Climate Choice” product line.
Together with Global Energy Storage, Stolthaven Terminals has been selected as the preferred choice to plan, design, build and operate an ammonia terminal in Pecém, Brazil. The new terminal will facilitate exports from a number of ammonia production projects planned for the area.