Offshore developer Ørsted has partnered with Norwegian fertiliser company Yara for a project that aims to replace fossil-based hydrogen with renewable hydrogen in the production of ammonia.
The two companies claim the development could remove 100,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, replacing fossil-based hydrogen at Yara's Sluiskil plant in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
The partners are working towards securing public co-funding and a regulatory framework that would enable them to commission the project by 2024/2025.
Terje Knutsen, Yara executive vice president, said: “Green ammonia can be essential to enable sustainable food production. In addition, it is emerging as the most promising carbon-neutral energy carrier for several energy applications, such as decarbonised shipping fuel."
The renewable hydrogen would generate around 75,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year, about 10% of the capacity of the Sluiskil ammonia site, one of Yara's largest facilities.
Ørsted confirmed it is set to inaugurate the 752MW Borssele I & II Borssele I & II (752MW) Offshoreoff Zeeland, Netherlands, Europe Click to see full details offshore wind farm off the coast of Zeeland close to the Sluiskil plant.
A final investment decision to build the new plant has been scheduled for late 2021.
Martin Neubert, executive vice president and CEO of Ørsted Offshore, said the project would help to mature the technology for the wider decarbonisation of European industry.
The project could prove to be a milestone for the Smart Delta Resources cluster in Zeeland, part of an initiative to scale up renewable hydrogen production in the Netherlands to 3-4GW by 2030, Ørsted said.
Green ammonia can be used to produce carbon-neutral fertiliser products as well as removing carbon from the food chain.
It also potential as a future green shipping fuel, Ørsted added.
