Slide One

Project 2W2NH3®

(Wind & Water to Ammonia)

Project under development to industrialise the production and storage of Green Ammonia

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Ammonia production platform
Project 2W2NH3® (Wind & Water to Ammonia)

Green Ammonia (gNH3) can become the cornerstone of a decarbonised industry. Hydrogen and Ammonia can reduce the share of fossil fuels to less than 20% of total energy compared to 80% today.

Why Ammonia?

gNH3 may become dominant in new installations after 2030. In the long term, gNH3 can be the commodity of choice for transporting renewable energy between continents due to its flexibility of application with its main advantages:

More convenient energy storage and transport

Ammonia is even easier to store and transport than Green Hydrogen.

Propulsion of vehicles without CO2 emissions

Ammonia is a very promising fuel for future ships, gas turbines and CO2-free thermal engines.

The basis for chemicals and fertilisers

Ammonia is widely used in fertilizers and cleaning products.

Grid support for electrical energy

The difference between the production and consumption of electrical energy in the grid (stability criterion) is reduced by temporarily activating the NH3 burning turbines, thus ensuring a higher base load.

Some information about Ammonia

IRENA estimates that half of the hydrogen trade in 2050 will be in the form of ammonia.
Hydrogen and ammonia can reduce the share of fossil fuels to less than 20% of total energy compared to 80% today.
Ammonia remains liquid below ‑33°C and does not require special precautions for safety (except for toxicity management) and against corrosion (embrittlement).
NH3 management infrastructure exists in 120 ports around the world.

GHyGA’s 2W2NH3® Ammonia extended production platform includes the following equipment and processes:

A renovated and adapted “semi-submersible” type platform (“innovative upcycling”).
A wind kite with a capacity of 4 MW.
8 Helical screws* with a capacity of 12 MW.
5 MWh intermediate storage batteries.
12 MW electrolyser.
A seawater desalination unit.
One unit of nitrogen.
A Syngas compressor.
An Ammonia convertor.
A thermal energy recovery unit.
Storage and transport tanks.

Ammonia costs

On a fossil fuel basis, NH3 currently costs €290/t for a global quantity of 183 million tonnes per year. Renewable energies and the advancement of electrolyser and catalyst technologies to generate Ammonia, can lower the production costs of gNH3 from 720 €/t in 2022 to 310–600 €/t in 2050. The 2W2NH3 project^® is calibrated to produce gNH3 at around 480 €/t in 2030.

To become competitive, progress must be made on the following issues:

Increase the carbon tax to €150/t CO2

Investing in the development and production of electrolysers

Financial support for “prototype” factories

Upcycling of decommissioned offshore platforms

An “upcycled” ammonia production platform

The “semi-submersible” platform is an existing renovated platform that is perfect for installing all the necessary production equipment and interconnected processes.
The floating platform is attached to the seabed by mooring cables.
This platform is equipped with new structures on its 4 sides, which carry 8 Helical turbines with a power of 12 MW. These 4 support structures are mobile and allow to put the tidal turbines in operational under water position or to lift them up on deck in position for repair and maintenance.
In the centre of the platform is a 4 MW wind kite.
Both sources of energy help to smoothen the variations in power amplitude created by winds and ocean currents.
The Green Ammonia production chain is complemented by storage in tanks pessurised at 15 bars for transport to shore by shuttle.
Operational control is performed remotely. The operational team on the platform is reduced to 2–3 people.

KAPSOM in China is pursuing NH3 production by “Chlorine gasification”, a state-of-the-art technology to reduce the temperature and pressure of Haber-Bosch processes, resulting in increased efficiency.

By 2050, three quarters of the ammonia used will be produced on the basis of renewable energy. The market will follow as emission-free NH3 production prices will drop from $720/ton in 2020 to $310–600/ton in 2050 depending on the technologies used. A carbon tax of $150/ton CO2 will lead to a decarbonised NH3 price of $350/ton NH3.

*Archimedean screw

**hydro turbine

Ammonia production from the platform

5000 tons NH3

per year

16 MW of electrical energy installed to produce 5000 tonnes of green NH3 per year.

Synthesis and technology

The electrolytic synthesis of ammonia

The electrolytic synthesis of ammonia uses the following alternative technologies:

The liquid electrolyte.
Melted salt.
Composite membranes.
The “solid state” process.

GHyGA selects the optimal technology for the 2W2NH3^® project through a detailed analysis of the integrated process chain on the upcycled offshore platform.

The different electrolysis technologies

The various electrolysis technologies are rapidly progressing.
Among the dominant industrialised products in 2022 are:

Alkaline (ALK) technology, the most robust and mature, notably developed by MCPHY in France.
The Protons Exchange Membrane (PEM) technology, very promising but still “delicate”.

Among the disruptive technologies are those developed in France by GEN-HY Anions Exchange Membrane (AEM), which combines the advantages of ALK and PEM technologies. These technologies are very modular, but not yet mature.

GHyGA will choose its technology according to the following criteria:

Availability and production potential.
Energy efficiency.
Lowest costs in CAPEX and OPEX.

Contact

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