Norway’s Yara, partners to electrify, decarbonize Porsgrunn ammonia plant

SINGAPORE (ICIS)–Fertilizer firm Yara International has signed a deal with two industrial firms to electrify and decarbonize its ammonia facility in Porsgrunn, Norway.

The Porsgrunn plant produces 500,000 tonnes/year of ammonia, according to ICIS data.

The company has signed a letter of intent with fellow Norwegians Statkraft and Aker Horizons on the project, also with the aim of enabling the hydrogen economy and accelerating the green energy transition, Yara said in a statement on Thursday.

“With Statkraft and Aker Horizons onboard we gain key expertise within renewable electricity, power markets, industrial development and project execution, giving us a unique opportunity to realize the project,” Yara president and CEO Svein Tore Holsether said in a statement.

The project cost was not disclosed.

The three partners aim to fully remove carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from ammonia production, thereby producing emission-free fuel for shipping, carbon-free fertilizer and ammonia for industrial applications.

“The partners will target green hydrogen and green ammonia opportunities within shipping, agriculture and industrial applications, by electrifying Yara’s existing ammonia facility in Porsgrunn,” the statement said.

The targeted annual carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions from the project would be equivalent to emissions from more than 300,000 fossil fuel passenger cars, it said.

“Provided that power is available at the site and the required public co-funding is in place, the project could be realized within 5-7 years,” it said.

The partners will further explore potential for green ammonia production in northern Norway “as a future opportunity”, Yara said.