The new plant will produce 5,000 tons of green ammonia annually, replacing grey ammonia that relies on environmentally harmful fossil fuels.
Three Danish energy technology companies, Topsoe, Skovgaard Energy, and Vestas, have inaugurated the world’s first green ammonia production plant in the town of Ramme, Denmark, as reported by New Atlas on August 28. The new facility has the capacity to produce 5,000 tons of green ammonia each year, entirely powered by solar and wind energy, helping to reduce CO2 emissions by 8,200 tons annually.
The plant has the capacity to produce 5,000 tons of green ammonia annually. (Photo: Topsoe).
This output considers the natural fluctuations in energy that solar panels and wind turbines can produce. The plant will optimize the electrolysis and ammonia synthesis processes based on these variations while improving cost efficiency.
Grey ammonia production, which relies on fossil fuels, is currently the prevalent method worldwide, accounting for approximately 1.2% of total CO2 emissions. According to the multinational consulting firm McKinsey, eliminating this method could reduce emissions equivalent to 1.5 times the total emissions of France.
Green ammonia serves as a direct alternative to grey ammonia in fertilizer production and industrial applications. Transitioning from grey ammonia to green ammonia is one of the simplest ways to cut emissions from agriculture. Additionally, as countries shift towards producing more renewable energy, production costs will decrease.
Although green ammonia is primarily used for fertilizer production (about 70% of global supply), it also facilitates the safe and cost-effective transport of hydrogen. Ammonia also has the potential to be used as an efficient fuel source. The plant in Denmark is an impressive example of Power-to-X conversion technology, paving the way for more green ammonia production facilities to emerge worldwide.
