The federal government of Canada has agreed to support Project Nujio’qonik via a US$95 million credit facility. The funding will help developers in the push towards long-term financing for the Newfoundland-based ammonia project.
The Port Bonython and Pilbara Hubs are part of a wider strategy by the Australian government to set up multiple hubs around the country to promote renewable hydrogen & ammonia production in Australia. Based on a common-user infrastructure approach and equal federal-state funding, other locations set to benefit from this initiative include Kwinana, Gladstone, Townsville, Bell Bay and the Hunter.
The Canadian and German governments have agreed to establish a bilateral funding window for hydrogen derivative exports between the two countries. H2Global will conduct “coordinated supply and demand side auctions”, with ammonia-producing projects on Canada’s Atlantic coast likely frontrunners for funding. In related news, Pattern Energy, lead developer of one of these export projects, will work with Mabanaft to explore a renewable ammonia supply chain between Newfoundland and Hamburg.
The Egyptian Parliament has ratified an incentive package for renewable hydrogen producers, aiming to pave the way for a rapid expansion of the sector. The incentives range from tax concessions to administrative streamlining and will seek to create an attractive investment climate. Egypt is well-located to play a leading role in meeting European demand for hydrogen exports. It is not alone in this ambition, however. Similar schemes have been launched by countries such as Oman.
A research team from Griffith & Oxford Universities concludes that, with the right approach, multiple world-scale, renewable ammonia plants could operate on the Queensland coast, supporting the deep decarbonisation of the electricity grid. Flexible plants can provide “green ammonia value chain-based” demand response services, representing a potential answer to Australia’s winter energy problem.
Two new Bills make up a “hydrogen promotion” package submitted to the Japanese parliament. The “Hydrogen Society Promotion Bill”, sets up a framework for awarding subsidies under the GX bonds scheme (a contracts-for-difference program), while the “CCS Business Bill” sets out permitting and monitoring requirements for domestic CCS projects in Japan.
The Indian government has launched a new incentive scheme for renewable ammonia, aiming to support the production of 550,000 tonnes per year from 2027. The news comes as the first winners of subsidies for renewable hydrogen production & domestic electrolyser manufacturing were announced. In December, the government also amended an existing scheme to provide financial assistance for new-build vessels powered by green fuels, including ammonia.
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).
For producers to qualify for 45V tax credits, the US Treasury has proposed a set of new rules for renewable hydrogen that closely align with EU standards. The three pillars approach already adopted by the EU is proposed, as is the use of Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET model for lifecycle emissions analysis.
For our final episode of Maritime Ammonia Insights, we asked our resident experts Sofia and Conor Fürstenberg Stott to provide their insights on the pathway forward for marine ammonia fuel. Discussion topics included challenges for overlaying alternative fuels onto the existing bunker industry, the importance of seafarers to the transition, and why we need to move beyond talking about competition between alternative fuel candidates.