AmmPower to set up green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in South Louisiana port

Canada-based engineering company AmmPower says the facility is expected to produce up to 4,000 mt/day of green ammonia carbon-free shipping fuel and for transferring hydrogen energy.

PHOTO: A vessel near a container loading terminal at the Port of South Louisiana. Port of South Louisiana

The aim is for the plant to produce green ammonia as a marine fuel for 4,500 ships per year at the US Port of South Louisiana (POSL).

“POSL is not only one of the largest ports in the world, but will now have the infrastructure to support any oceangoing vessels that require green ammonia for fuel,” says Gary Benninger, chief executive at AmmPower.

The facility will produce green ammonia both for domestic use and exports.

Green ammonia is made by combining nitrogen from the atmosphere with hydrogen made from water electrolysis using zero-carbon electricity sources such as solar and wind. AmmPower says it is developing new catalysts methods for hydrogen-nitrogen reaction.

As a hydrogen-derivative, ammonia is also ideal as a hydrogen carrier to ship the fuel over short and long distances, it says.

Hydrogen can later be released from the ammonia through cracking it.

In July last year, AmmPower struck a deal with Brazil’s Porto Central to develop production, storage and supply of green ammonia at its liquid bulk terminals.