One might picture a shining tower or an endless solar farm when they see or hear the word NEOM, a futuristic $500 billion megacity that rose out of the Saudi desert. However, there is more to NEOM than the basics, and that is ammonia. Not just half or a quarter of it, but 1.2M tonnes of this toxic, extremely powerful energy. Although referred to as toxic, ammonia is one of the biggest production resources for NEOM annually. As I mentioned, it might sound toxic or unremarkable, but it is one of the resources found in cleaning products and is about to make a revolution in the energy sector.
From desert to powerhouse: NEOM’s goal of producing 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia annually
The NEOM Green Hydrogen Company (NGHC), a joint venture between NEOM, ACWA Power, and Air Products, is at the centre of this production endeavour. It’s hard to overestimate the scope of their ambition: an $8.4 billion facility that spans the Oxagon region of NEOM and is already 60% built. This facility will rank among the biggest producers of green ammonia worldwide.
The project would produce 600 tonnes of hydrogen per day using four gigawatts of solar and wind power. The hydrogen will be combined with nitrogen to create ammonia. This corresponds to 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia annually, mostly for export. The objective is to provide a zero-carbon substitute for fossil fuels and diesel in the maritime and industrial sectors worldwide.
Ammonia is good but can be harmful and toxic as well if it is not handled with care and caution. Ammonia’s toxicity is widely known. Good examples would be it can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs. It gets worse; if abused and in high amounts, it can lead to death. That is the toxic context of ammonia. Therefore, NEOM has placed strict safety measures to ensure no one is harmed and includes training on how to handle it as well.
The energy transition’s workhorse is ammonia, even though hydrogen may be the star
In all of this, NEOM won’t produce just hydrogen, but hydrogen still gets its flowers. The energy resource has been at the heart of the global community for years now, and that is because it is clean and emits water when burned. Therefore, Saudi Arabia’s NEOM will produce about 600 tonnes of hydrogen daily, which will position it as the world’s hydrogen global leader.
Hydrogen is clean and all, but the logistics and storage part of it is still a huge issue. However, that is where ammonia steps in. Hydrogen is then converted to ammonia; this way, NEOM can transport the energy across oceans for kilometres.
The second major hiring campaign for the largest green hydrogen plant in the world was announced by NEOM
While the energy process might seem simple, it takes skilled labour and experts to comprehend how this resource can be utilised and make an impact on the environment, and that is why the second major hiring campaign for the largest green hydrogen plant in the world was announced by NEOM Green Hydrogen Company in early April.
The role that NEOM has played in producing clean energy and outsourcing skilled talent to help make a global impact is impressive. Clean energy is in demand; if NEOM plays its cards well, it can be the next top global ammonia and hydrogen supplier, positioning it as a significant venture in clean energy. The dream of clean energy is slowly becoming tangible. Furthermore, with all the issues companies have been facing with hydrogen, be it in the automotive or energy industries, ammonia is the backbone that could carry NEOM’s energy from the deserts of Saudi Arabia to ports around the world.
