World's first green ammonia plant opens

The new plant will produce 5,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year, replacing grey ammonia which uses environmentally harmful fossil fuels.

Three Danish energy technology companies, Topsoe, Skovgaard Energy and Vestas, have opened the world's first green ammonia plant in the town of Ramme, Denmark, New Atlas reported on August 28. The new plant is capable of producing 5,000 tons of green ammonia per year, powered entirely by solar and wind energy, reducing CO2 emissions by 8,200 tons annually.

The plant has the capacity to produce 5,000 tons of green ammonia per year. (Photo: Topsoe).

This output takes into account natural fluctuations in the energy levels produced by solar panels and wind turbines. The plant will optimize the electrolysis and ammonia synthesis processes based on these fluctuations, increasing cost efficiency.

The production of grey ammonia – using fossil fuels – is the most common method in the world, accounting for about 1.2% of total CO2 emissions _. According to the multinational corporation McKinsey, eliminating this method would reduce emissions equivalent to 1.5 times the emissions of the whole of France.

Green ammonia is a direct replacement for grey ammonia in fertilizer production and industrial applications . Switching from grey ammonia to green ammonia is one of the easiest ways to reduce emissions from agriculture. Additionally, as countries move to more renewable energy, production costs will decrease.

While green ammonia is primarily used to produce fertilizers (about 70% of global supply), it also helps transport hydrogen safely and cheaply. Ammonia also has the potential to be used as an efficient fuel. The Danish plant is an impressive demonstration of Power-to-X technology , paving the way for more green ammonia production facilities to spring up around the world.