Australia’s national research organisation CSIRO is contributing valuable R&D across the hydrogen and ammonia value chains. At Ammonia Energy APAC 2023, we’ll hear updates on some key ammonia energy projects at CSIRO: small-scale production, combustion engines, and fuel cells, as well as an ongoing partnership with Fortescue Future Industries to develop & deploy metal membrane technology for ammonia cracking systems.
EnBW, VNG and Jera will jointly conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the construction of an ammonia cracker demonstration plant at the Port of Rostock. The port joins a list of European ports where large-scale ammonia cracking is being considered, or a demonstration plant has already been announced: Antwerp, Rotterdam, Wilhelmshaven, Liverpool and Immingham amongst others.
Trammo will purchase & sell up to 100,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia from Iberdrola in Spain, starting in 2026. The agreement kickstarts a green hydrogen corridor linking southern and northern Europe, with Trammo to focus on ammonia sales to industrial customers.
Norwegian technology developer Pherousa announced that it has developed & validated an ammonia cracking-based propulsion system, with plans to order six Ultramax vessels fitted with the technology. Grieg Maritime has ordered up to four ammonia-ready bulk carriers from China State Shipbuilding Corporation for delivery in 2026. And a new container ship design has been unveiled by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.
The Ammogen consortium has begun construction on a commercial scale ammonia cracker in the Tyseley Energy Park, aiming to produce 200kg of hydrogen per day for the mobility market. The demonstrator is the latest in a series of announced cracking projects in the UK, demonstrating improved technology, public and private partnerships, plus the utilisation of existing port facilities and resource hubs.
As Europe is expected to import a significant part of its hydrogen needs, ammonia cracking will play a key role. New results from a pre-feasibility study shed light on important considerations for efficient, safe deployment of industrial scale cracking at Rotterdam. Modernisation of the Netherland’s official ammonia storage and loading guideline also shows that fit-for-purpose regulation will be important to meet the demands of a fast-growing ammonia industry.
In maritime ammonia updates this week:
In cracking technology updates this week:
India-based Essar Group will invest $2.4 billion on low-carbon projects at the Stanlow refinery complex near Liverpool, UK. As part of this investment, Essar and Stanlow Terminals will jointly develop an ammonia import terminal. The site will feature deep-water access, cracking facilities and the capacity to handle more than one million tonnes of ammonia imports per year from Gujarat, India.
New import terminals, energy hubs, bunker facilities & upgrades to existing ammonia storage facilities are underway across Europe. This week, we explore new project announcements in Wilhelmshaven, Brunsbüttel, Rotterdam and Immingham. We visit Taiwan for another ammonia import terminal announcement, and look at a new partnership between thyssenkrupp and ADNOC to deploy large-scale cracking - the “last piece of the puzzle” for global ammonia trading.