Mejillones Ammonia Energy will produce 600,000 ton-per-year of solar-powered renewable ammonia for the local and international markets. The first phase is expected to become operational by 2027, delivering 300,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia.
Enaex and NYK Bulk & Project Carriers will explore the feasibility of supplying renewable ammonia fuel in Mejillones, northern Chile. NYK Bulk and Chilean national copper company Codelco have already signed an MoU to build a fleet of 10-15 ammonia-fueled vessels to transport copper concentrate from Mejillones to key Asian markets.
AustriaEnergy, Ökowind and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ HNH Energy project in southern Chile will expand to a second phase, featuring a tripling of onshore wind capacity to 5 GW. Construction is due to start in 2025.
In our latest episode of Ammonia Project Features, we explored Project Iracema: a grid-connected, renewable ammonia production facility under-development in Pecem, northeast Brazil. To discuss Brazil’s unique electricity market, project details and the important role of certification to the project, AEA Technology Manager Kevin Rouwenhorst was joined by Jonas Rechreche (Proton Ventures), Matheus Kleming (Casa dos Ventos) and Ricardo Gedra (CCEE).
NYK reports the retrofitting of the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake has begun in Yokohama. An ammonia-fueled engine developed by IHI Power Systems, NYK, Japan Engine Corporation and Nihon Shipyard will replace the conventional system on board, with the tug due to hit the water by 2024. NYK & Chilean copper producer CODELCO have also announced they are developing an ammonia-powered Handymax bulk carrier, aiming to develop a fleet to service the cross-Pacific copper trade.
AEA President Hans Vrijenhoef recently participated in an official hydrogen trade mission to Chile, addressing the audience at the Santiago Green Hydrogen Summit and securing interest to start planning Chile’s first ammonia-focused event. With a number of key challenges facing ammonia project developers in Latin America and the need to train & educate so many ammonia “newcomers”, 2024 will be the perfect opportunity to bring together all the key stakeholders.
Green Energy Park has announced that its first ammonia production & export facility will be located in the State of Piauí, Brazil. In the initial phase, one million tonnes of ammonia per year will be produced & exported to a midstream distribution hub on the island of Krk in Croatia, which is on the doorstep of key European industrial regions.
Having witnessed the extreme climate events this northern hemisphere summer, it was heartening to see momentum for new renewable projects on display in Sao Paulo, where I spoke at a recent conference. In the Netherlands, an important decision on the Porthos project will - hopefully - create space for infrastructure development.