Vlissingen ammonia import hub progresses

By Julian Atchison on March 14, 2023

Proton Ventures awarded FEED for tank re-conversions

Graphic Visualisation of the future “Greenpoint Valley” ammonia import hub. Source: Proton Ventures.
Click to learn more. Graphic Visualisation of the future “Greenpoint Valley” ammonia import hub. Source: Proton Ventures.

First announced in September 2022 following an agreement between Vesta Terminals and Uniper, the “Greenpoint Valley ” ammonia import hub is progressing in Vlissingen on the Netherland’s southern coast. Vesta Terminal’s existing site has two 30,000m³ capacity, refrigerated storage tanks that are designed for ammonia but currently used for biodiesel storage. Following scoping work throughout 2022, Proton Ventures has been awarded the FEED contract to “re-convert” the two tanks for ammonia storage, with imports expected to begin arriving at the start of 2025. FEED work will focus on expansion of jetty facilities to accommodate Very Large Gas Carriers, a new railcar loading area, with space set aside for a potential third storage tank and an ammonia cracker.

As a future hub [Vlissingen] will be able to handle initial throughput capacity of one million metric ton per annum (mtpa) NH3. The terminal is well located for the supply of green ammonia by seagoing vessels, re-loading into barges and rail tank cars. In a second phase the throughput capacity of the facility can be expanded to two mtpa and the terminal will be connected to the Dutch hydrogen pipeline network via a world-scale cracker. The commissioning and start of operations is envisaged for 2nd half of 2025.

Description of the “Greenpoint Valley” hub, from Proton Ventures’ official press release, 6 Mar 2022

An electrolyser manufacturing ecosystem for Rotterdam?

Just up the Dutch coastline, a consortium of twelve partners (including Battolyser Systems) has proposed a manufacturing setup for Rotterdam that will produce up to 1 GW of Battolyser hydrogen batteries per year. Battolyer’s unique, integrated electrolyser-battery storage system was developed at the Delft University of Technology, and has been on Ammonia Energy’s radar for a number of years now. The consortium has applied for €80 million in funding from the Dutch National Growth Fund to realise the vision.