The electricity will be generated from renewable energy sources and provide enough hydrogen to produce 20,500 t/y of ammonia, which can be converted to between 60,000-80,000 t/y of green fertilizer, roughly five times the annual production of food-grade wheat in Norway, according to Yara.

“The project aims to supply the first green ammonia products to the market as early as mid-2023, both as fossil-free fertilizers, as well as emissions-free shipping fuel. Green ammonia is the key to reducing emissions from world food production and long-distance shipping,” said Magnus Ankarstrand, president of Yara Clean Ammonia.

Norway’s government agency Enova is supporting the project with a grant of 283 million Norwegian kroner. Yara said the project will be its first step toward decarbonizing the ammonia industry.

“Given the growing demand from the fertilizer industry for green hydrogen, this plant is a step towards further upscaling and increasing the size of these projects worldwide,” added John van der Velden, senior vice president global sales & technology at Linde Engineering.

The project will be the second PEM electrolysis plant designed and constructed by Linde Engineering – the first is under construction at its site in Leuna, Germany.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist