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.
Singapore-based Aslan Energy Capital has acquired land in Sonora state for a solar-powered hydrogen and ammonia production project, feeding domestic requirements in Mexico. Also amongst Aslan’s portfolio is the ARUN Blue Ammonia project in Aceh Province, near the vital Strait of Malacca international shipping lane.
Ireland-based Phelan has announced it will develop a $2.4 billion hydrogen and ammonia production project in Peru, based on solar energy generation in the Arequipa region. The project will initially produce 440,000 tons per year of renewable ammonia, with scale up plans already in place to boost production to 1 million tons capacity.
Sungrow Hydrogen will provide alkaline electrolysers for a new hydrogen and ammonia project in Jilin province. China Energy Engineering Corporation is leading development of the project, which will produce 600,000 tons of renewable ammonia each year. In Inner Mongolia, construction has begun on a similar-sized plant, which will produce ammonia from wind and solar energy.
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.
China is keeping pace with IEA predictions for electrolyzer installations, with as much as 55% of the world’s total capacity to be installed there by 2028. Coupled with strong wind-power resources, domestic manufacturing capabilities and multiple economic drivers to transition away from coal-based ammonia production, China is ideally positioned to speed up the deployment of renewable ammonia projects.
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).
Although a globally significant ammonia producer, India still relies on ammonia & fertilizer imports to support its agricultural sector. In our recent episode of Ammonia Project Features, we explored the potential of domestically-produced renewable ammonia to both replace these imports and position India as an ammonia energy giant. Excellent solar PV resources, plentiful government support and access to “round-the-clock” renewables were all highlighted as key drivers for India to meet its renewable ammonia potential.
In our latest episode of Ammonia Project Features, Asunción Borras (Engie) and Pablo Wallach (Enaex) presented the HyEx project. Although a historical exporter of nitrogen fertilizers, Chile is now a major importer of ammonia, particularly as a feedstock for manufacturing mining explosives. Solar PV generating potential in Chile’s Atacama desert is among the world’s best, and the HyEx project will leverage this to produce renewable ammonia. By 2030, HyEx could produce enough ammonia to completely replace Enaex’s current ammonia imports, with volume left for exports or other applications.
The pair will partner to develop a renewable hydrogen & ammonia project near Abu Dhabi, powered by 650 MW of solar PV in the first phase. The announcement adds to a growing portfolio of electrolysis and CCS-based ammonia projects in the UAE. Also in the Middle East, neighbouring Oman looks to position itself as the ideal “midway” ammonia bunker hub between Rotterdam and Singapore.