The pair will explore a million-ton-per-year ammonia production plant at an undisclosed US location, based on CCS hydrogen production. The plant will be a “potentially important contributor” to INEOS Nitriles’ emission reduction targets, as ammonia is a key feedstock for acrylonitrile manufacturing.
Approved by the national cabinet, the draft law aims to create a legal framework for rapid development and expansion of hydrogen infrastructure, including ammonia import and cracking facilities. Relevant planning, approval and procurement procedures will be simplified and digitalized where possible, and projects covered by the Act will also be considered in the “overriding public interest”, with some important caveats. Germany’s national cabinet also approved a CCS Act this month, aimed at decarbonising hard-to-abate industrial processes.
thyssenkrupp Uhde will lead concept development of a 50 MW electrolysis facility adjacent to Fertiberia’s Puertollano plant. Together with Nel and Iberdrola’s existing 20 MW electrolysis facility operating nearby, enough electrolytic hydrogen feedstock will be produced to decarbonise 40% of Puertollano’s site emissions.
From near-zero volumes today, JERA has set its sights on being a “pioneer player” in the emerging global value chain for ammonia, handling 7 million tons every year by 2035. JERA is also aiming for 100% substitution of ammonia fuel in ultra-supercritical power stations in the 2040s, and to maintain currently low levels of NOX and SOX emissions from its power generating fleet.
LSB will supply up to 150,000 tons per year of low-carbon ammonium nitrate solution (ANS) to Freeport Minerals Corporation from 2025, for use in Freeport’s USA copper mining operations. The ANS will be manufactured from low-carbon ammonia produced at LSB’s El Dorado plant.
Mizuho Financial, one of Japan’s largest banks, has outlined its near-term investment strategy for the “production and supply of hydrogen and related technologies by 2030”. Mizuho is offering ¥2 trillion worth of financing that will be committed to various projects and players globally, and is also engaged in various hydrogen and ammonia initiatives.
Fifty percent of phase one production will be supplied to Yara Clean Ammonia from Greenko’s planned production facility in Kakinada, southern India. The offtake agreement covers “long-term supply” of ammonia, which will be compliant to EU import requirements.
Kenya aims to substitute 50% of current, ammonia-based fertilizer imports with locally-produced alternatives, based on the production of electrolytic hydrogen. New guidelines from Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority set carbon intensity thresholds for “green” hydrogen and ammonia, as well as the incentives on offer for project developers. The new launch follows commitments to promote local fertilizer production made by heads of state at the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit. We also explore two existing renewable projects in Kenya from Maire Tecnimont and Talus Renewables.
Hygenco will establish a 1.1 million tons per year renewable ammonia project in the Gopalpur Industrial Park. Hygenco recently commissioned the Steel One project, one of India’s first MW-scale, electrolytic hydrogen production plants.
MAN Energy Solutions has announced one of the first deployments of its ammonia two-stroke engine will take place in Japan. Mitsui E&S will construct the MAN B&W 7S60ME dual-fuel engine, with Imabari Shipbuilding to then install it aboard a Newcastlemax bulk carrier, along with an integrated SCR catalytic converter to treat engine NOX emissions. The news underscores significant momentum for the deployment of marine ammonia engines, with Wärtsilä, WinGD and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding also engaged in ongoing projects.