Yara, a producer of mineral fertilizers, has announced plans for 500,000 tons per annum of green ammonia production in Norway, which it says will facilitate greater adoption of emission-free shipping fuels and decarbonized food solutions.
“Ammonia is the most promising hydrogen carrier and zero-carbon shipping fuel, and Yara is the global ammonia champion; a leader within production, logistics and trade. I am excited to announce that a full-scale green ammonia project is possible in Norway, where we can fully electrify our Porsgrunn ammonia plant,” explained Svein Tore Holsether, president and CEO of Yara.
The company notes that ammonia’s chemical properties make it ideally suited for the hydrogen economy. It does not require cooling to extreme temperatures, and has a higher energy density than liquid hydrogen, making it more efficient to transport and store. As a result, it says that ammonia is one of the most promising hydrogen carriers and zero-carbon shipping fuels.
Yara says it aims to capture opportunities within shipping, agriculture and industrial applications, in a market expected to grow by 60% over the next two decades. In order to make its vision of zero-emission ammonia production in Norway a reality, it is seeking partners and government support. If the required public co-funding and regulatory framework is in place, it says the project could be operational by 2026.