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HyEx: ammonia from the Chilean desert

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.

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Greenko secures electrolysers, off-take for renewable projects in India

Greenko has ordered 140 MW of electrolysers from John Cockerill for its under-development renewable ammonia plant in northern India. Last year the pair agreed to build an electrolyser gigafactory in Kakinada, southern India, which will also be home to a Greenko renewable ammonia production plant. Phase one of the Kakinada project will produce 250,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia, with Uniper to act as exclusive off-taker for the ammonia product.

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Renewable ammonia opportunities in Egypt

For our December episode of Ammonia Project Features, we welcomed Alzbeta Klein (International Fertilizer Association) and Tarek Hosny (Fertiglobe). Our speakers discussed a pathway forward for Egypt’s fertilizer industry to decarbonize, presented the newly-commissioned Egypt Green Hydrogen project, and outlined the unique advantages (and challenges) of developing renewable production projects in Egypt.

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Renewable ammonia & fertilizers in Sub-Saharan Africa

In our December episode of Ammonia Project Features, our three guests focused on renewable ammonia production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Allan Manhanga (Sable Chemicals) took us through the story of renewable ammonia production in Zimbabwe from 1972 to 2015, and what is needed to restart the industry there. Ralph Koekkoek (MET Development) presented a new renewable ammonia & fertilizer project underway in Kenya, with a focus on local farmers and national food security. And Marcel Jacobs (African Hydrogen Partnership) emphasized the important role of organisations in raising awareness & de-risking future projects, particularly through approaches like the proposed East African Green Hydrogen and Fertilizer Corridor.

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Renewable ammonia exports from Angola by 2024

Angola’s state-owned energy company Sonangol has signed an agreement with two German engineering firms to build a 280,000 tonne per year renewable ammonia production plant on the country’s northern coast. Exports to the EU are expected to begin in 2024, with a supply of hydroelectricity already secured.

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First-movers working towards renewable ammonia

Three key first-movers at Ammonia Energy - NEOM, Yara and Fertiberia - have all made significant steps towards green ammonia production in recent times. With the launch of a new subsidiary to develop hydrogen & ammonia production, NEOM can possibly begin construction of its green hydrogen plant this month. Also this week, Yara held a groundbreaking ceremony at Heroya, with the intention to bring green ammonia and fertilisers to market by mid-2023. And a few months ago in December, green hydrogen storage tanks arrived at Fertiberia’s Puertollano ammonia plant, ready for installation.

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Ammonia exports from regional Russia

Eurasia Mining and H4Energy will develop two hydrogen/ammonia export projects at either end of Russia. The Kola Green Hydrogen Project in Murmansk (far west) seeks to take advantage of cheap, abundant zero-carbon energy, combined with easy access to key shipping routes. On Sakhalin Island (far east) a new, wind-powered P2X facility is being explored.

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Green ammonia in Paraguay

Paraguay's National Administration of Electricity (ANDE) signed a new MoU this week with MET Development and FerSam Uruguay to develop a 100% renewable energy-powered fertiliser plant in Alto Paraná. Hydroelectricity from the nearby Itaipu Dam will power green hydrogen production, which will then be utilised to produce ammonium nitrate fertilisers. ATOME Energy also announced plans for a 250 MW green hydrogen & ammonia production plant in the Itaipu Technology Park. Both project fit neatly into Paraguay's green hydrogen national strategy, with an installed electrolyser target of 600 MW set for 2030.

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Haldor Topsøe and Green Fuel team up in Iceland

Topsøe and newcomer Green Fuel will join forces to identify efficient and scalable technologies to produce green ammonia in Iceland. A coalition of organisations is also working on a new green energy park in the town of Reyðarfjörður on Iceland's east coast, with e-fuels production and use of the electrolysis by-product oxygen a major part of the plan.