Envision Energy launched the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plant, marking a major step in China’s journey toward decarbonising its heavy industries and expanding its influence in the global clean fuel market. The company officially inaugurated the first phase of the project in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. The facility has an annual production capacity of 320,000 tonnes of green ammonia.
Zhang Lei, Envision’s founder and CEO, stated “This is more than a technological milestone. Scalable, green alternatives are now real and operational. We can’t get to net zero without green hydrogen, and we can’t afford to wait. This is the blueprint for a clean energy future.”
Plans for Expansion and Global Export
Envision announced that exports of green ammonia from the Chifeng plant will begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Looking ahead, the company plans to scale up production to 1.5 million tons per year by 2028, making it a cornerstone of China’s ambition to lead in green fuel technologies. s move aligns with Beijing’s strategic energy priorities. Hydrogen—along with its carriers ammonia and methanol—is now at the heart of China’s clean energy agenda, following its dominance in electric vehicles, solar panels, and battery manufacturing.
How Green Hydrogen is Produced
Unlike conventional hydrogen that relies on fossil fuels, green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis. This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar. This method ensures zero carbon emissions, making it a key solution for decarbonising sectors like steel, cement, fertilisers, and shipping. According to China’s National Energy Administration, the country produced around 36.5 million tonnes of hydrogen in 2024, making it the world’s top producer. However, more than half of this volume still comes from fossil-fuel-based methods.
Stronger Policy Support for Green Fuels
At the beginning of 2025, Beijing ramped up policy support for green hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia. The move acknowledges their critical role in reducing emissions from traditionally hard-to-abate industries. The government’s push comes amid rising global demand for green fuels driven by the urgent need for energy transition to combat climate change.
Global Demand Set to Surge
The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that global hydrogen demand will rise by 1.5 times current levels by 2030, reaching about 150 million tons annually. New applications in the EU, East Asia, and the US are expected to drive a significant portion of this growth.
Strategic International Partnership
In May 2025, Envision Energy signed a long-term agreement with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation to supply green ammonia from the Chifeng facility. Industry leaders expect this deal to accelerate the adoption of clean fuels. Key sectors set to benefit include chemicals, fertilisers, and maritime shipping.
Driving Toward Cost Competitiveness
As reported by scmp.com, Envision aims to achieve price parity between its green ammonia and methanol and their fossil-fuel-based counterparts by 2028. This goal reflects the company’s broader vision to make green fuels economically viable and globally competitive.
With this project, Envision Energy is expanding China’s clean energy footprint. It is also setting a global benchmark for large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production.
