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 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 pair have signed a firm and binding agreement for the supply of ammonia from ACME’s under-development project in Oman. 100,000 tons per year of RFNBO-compliant, renewable ammonia will be delivered from 2027, feeding into Yara’s global distribution system.
Launched in 2022, MAIRE Tecnimont will complete FEED for the MadoquaPower2X project in Sines, Portugal, as well as an EPC proposal for construction. The project will feature up to 1 GW of alkaline electrolysis capacity, feeding the production of 300,000 tons per year of ammonia. Terminal facilities will include large-scale storage, enabling the export of ammonia to northwest Europe.
A Norwegian-Ugandan consortium will develop a hydroelectric-powered hydrogen, ammonia and fertiliser production facility. Producing 200,000 metric tons of fertiliser every year based on hydroelectricity, the project aims to reduce Uganda’s reliance on expensive fertiliser imports.
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.
Mejillones Ammonia Energy will produce 600,000 ton-per-year of solar-powered renewable ammonia for the local and international markets. The first phase is expected to become operational by 2027, delivering 300,000 tonnes per year of renewable ammonia.
Enaex and NYK Bulk & Project Carriers will explore the feasibility of supplying renewable ammonia fuel in Mejillones, northern Chile. NYK Bulk and Chilean national copper company Codelco have already signed an MoU to build a fleet of 10-15 ammonia-fueled vessels to transport copper concentrate from Mejillones to key Asian markets.
China is keeping pace with IEA predictions for electrolyzer installations, with as much as 55% of the world’s total capacity to be installed there by 2028. Coupled with strong wind-power resources, domestic manufacturing capabilities and multiple economic drivers to transition away from coal-based ammonia production, China is ideally positioned to speed up the deployment of renewable ammonia projects.
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.