First Ammonia is to produce ammonia from renewable electricity at its flagship facility in Port of Victoria, Texas. It is the first commercial-scale ammonia facility to use solid-oxide electrolysers, which are said to be 30% more energy efficient than conventional electrolysers in terms of ammonia produced per kWh.
Production will begin in 2026, with the expected rapid scale up thereafter enabled by modular design.
The ammonia will be sold to Uniper for its industrial and global customers., the two companies having announced on 30 October at the US/Germany Hydrogen Conference in Berlin that they are working together on the supply project. Each 100 MW module at Port Victoria will initially produce up to 100 000 million tons per annum (mtpa) of green ammonia. This is the equivalent to 180 000-240 000 million tons of CO₂ avoided per annum when compared to grey ammonia.
The plant deploys what is said to be a unique power-to-ammonia concept based on the integration of the high temperature solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) with the exothermic ammonia synthesis process.
Uniper’s chief commercial officer Carsten Poppinga commented: "Our focus on greener gases will allow Uniper’s customers to switch from carbon-intensive ammonia to green and blue ammonia and thus avoiding a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The planned co-operation with First Ammonia and their technology partner Topsoe is a further and novel step into securing a diversified, flexible, and optimal supply of renewable molecules for North America and Europe. With our pioneering project development, our near-term goal is to become a supplier of choice for the industries using ammonia as a feedstock. Next to engaging in a range of global clean ammonia projects Uniper is actively pursuing projects to develop ammonia landing terminals and related infrastructure in European ports including at its German terminal in Wilhelmshaven."
Image: From right to left – Joel Moser First Ammonia CEO; Kim Hedegaard Topsoe Power-to-X CEO; and Lance Titus Uniper Senior Managing Director (courtesy of Uniper)
