ExxonMobil and Trammo are in talks which will see the latter offtake 300,000 to 500,000 tons of low-carbon ammonia from the under-development, CCS-based ammonia project in Baytown, Texas.
Partners report that the voyage demonstrates “efficient and economic” future pathways for the transport of ammonia, particularly as the scale-up of new maritime fuels occurs. The Green Power vessel was also involved in Trafigura’s first-ever ship-to-ship transfer of ammonia in the Straits of Gibraltar last July.
Via a new round of funding from the US Department of Energy, several ammonia production projects will advance. GTI Energy will lead a $1.5 million pre-FEED study to apply advanced CCS to steam methane reforming at the Mosaic Faustina facility in Louisiana. Also granted funds, Ammobia will continue to progress its new, improved version of the Haber Bosch process.
In our December episode of Project Features, Woodside Energy joined us to discuss the Beaumont Clean Ammonia Project in the US Gulf Coast. 1.1 million tons per year of lower-carbon ammonia will be produced from 2026, targeting European import markets. The project bolsters Woodside’s existing and future energy commodity export plans, and sets them up as a first-mover in key global markets for low-emission ammonia.
Long-awaited guidelines for tax credits for the production of “clean” hydrogen in the USA have been released, which include “significant changes” and additional flexibility compared to the first draft.
In order to achieve the aggressive Hydrogen Shot initiative goal of $1/kg production cost by 2030, the US Department of Energy sets out a series of performance and capital cost targets for established and lower-TRL electrolyser technologies. Meanwhile, Australia's national science agency CSIRO projects that Australia’s hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing sector could generate AU$1.7 billion in revenue annually by 2050.
The marine action plan urges the federal government to prioritize the implementation of electrolytic ammonia and methanol fuel in ocean-going vessels by 2050. A detailed action roadmap is presented, including infrastructure deployment, retrofits and upgrades to existing vessels.
The US Department of Energy has concluded negotiations with two more Hydrogen Hub consortia, committing funding to the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (up to $1.2 billion) and the Midwest Hydrogen Hub (up to $1 billion).
2024 has seen successful funding rounds for a number of ammonia energy startups, ranging in focus from catalyst development to next-generation, modular synthesis technologies.
Meet Woodside Energy to explore the new Beaumont Clean Ammonia Project. Located on the US Gulf Coast, phase one will have the capacity to produce 1.1 million tons per year of ammonia, utilizing gas feedstock. Lower-carbon ammonia production will start in 2026, when Linde will supply hydrogen feedstock to the facility with ExxonMobil to offtake the carbon dioxide associated with Linde’s hydrogen production for transportation and permanent sequestration.