Linde Engineeringannounced it has signed an agreement with Yara for the construction and delivery of a 24 MW green hydrogen plant. In December 2021, Yara was granted funding for the development of the initial plant by Enova.

Together, Linde and Yara will demonstrate that ammonia produced using renewable energy can reduce the volume of carbon dioxide emitted in fertilizer production. The 24 MW plant will be based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology by ITM Power and will be built in Porsgrunn at Heroya Industry park in Norway. This will be the second 24 MW PEM electrolysis plant designed and constructed by Linde Engineering; the first is currently being built at the Leuna Chemical Complex in Germany.

The electrolyzer will have a capacity of around 10,000 kg/day of hydrogen. Water electrolysis will produce green hydrogen to partially replace the gray hydrogen in Yara’s ammonia plant, thereby removing 41,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually. These emissions equate to the same amount emitted by roughly 16,000 passenger vehicles. The electrolyzer will produce enough hydrogen to create 20,500 tonnes of ammonia per year which can be converted to between 60,000 and 80,000 tonnes of green fertilizer. The plant is Yara’s first step towards decarbonization of the ammonia industry

“This project showcases Linde Engineering’s market leadership in electrolysis projects. Given the growing demand from the fertilizer industry for green hydrogen, this plant is a step towards further upscaling and increasing the size of these projects worldwide,” said John van der Velden, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Technology, Linde Engineering.

“The project aims to supply the first green ammonia products to the market as early as mid-2023, both as fossil free fertilizers, as well as emission free fuel for ships. Green ammonia is the key to reducing emissions from world food production and long-distance shipping. With this project, we move from intention to actions together with Linde Engineering and local contractors”, says Magnus Ankarstrand, President Yara Clean Ammonia.

Porsgrunn at Heroya Industry park in Norway. Photo by Yara International