A green ammonia plant at the Yanbu green hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia is poised to reach a final investment decision this year and start operations in 2030, according to Danish electrolyser firm Topsoe.
The company has been appointed ammonia technology licensor by Saudi Arabia-headquartered utility ACWA Power, and it will also deliver engineering, proprietary equipment and catalysts to Sinopec and Tecnicas Reunidas, which have jointly been awarded the front end engineering design contract.
Driss Berraho, Executive Vice-President of Business Development for Green Hydrogen at ACWA Power, said the collaboration with Topsoe would convert renewable energy into green hydrogen-based fuels, including green ammonia, at industrial scale.
“This development strengthens the hydrogen corridors that will connect competitive renewable resources with global demand centres and contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 industrial transformation,” he said.
ACWA Power and German energy company EnBW signed a joint development agreement to develop the first phase of the Yanbu green hydrogen project last July.
With its large power and desalination plant, Yanbu is a key location for energy production and distribution. Industrial gas partners Air Liquide and Air Products Qudra are among the operators.
Last year, Air Products said it is now looking to sell green ammonia from the NEOM project to fill any revenue gaps, given ongoing challenges in the green hydrogen market.
As a result of the shift, it will delay downstream investments in Europe – including ammonia import terminals – until “specific regulatory frameworks” are clear for each country, and it has “firm customer commitments.”
