Chinese green ammonia plant will be powered directly by variable wind power, without any battery or hydrogen storage
New ‘dynamic’ facility will use Haber-Bosch equipment made by Danish manufacturer Topsoe
China’s first so-called “dynamic” green ammonia plant — that will only operate when the wind is blowing — will be built in Inner Mongolia, using equipment made by Danish manufacturer Topsoe.
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That technology is able to produce ammonia from nitrogen in the air and hydrogen and while adapting to the “inherent fluctuations in power output from wind turbines”, without any battery or hydrogen storage.
The plant, being developed by Chinese company Mintal Hydrogen in the city of Baotou, will eventually produce 390,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year, with a first phase due to begin production in 2025.
According to Topsoe, it will replace grey ammonia derived from 850,000 tonnes of coal annually, with CO2 emissions savings of two million tonnes a year.
It is the Danish manufacturer’s first Power-to-X project in China, and the supply deal with Mintal Hydrogen — part of the Mintal Group, a major Chinese stainless steel manufacturer — includes Topsoe’s proprietary Haber-Bosch equipment, which combines hydrogen with nitrogen, along with engineering design and catalysts.
“Establishing a commercial size green ammonia plant in Baotou, really is a breakthrough in China for producing carbon neutral fuels and chemicals,” said XiaoLong Fu, general manager at Mintal Hydrogen.
“Naturally, we are very pleased, that we are now able to start construction of this landmark project, that will support China’s move to a greener economy.”
Topsoe manufactures its own solid-oxide electrolysers, but will not be supplying them to this project, which will use alkaline machines sourced from a third party.
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