Wind giant Vestas is backing plans to build one of the world’s first commercial-scale green ammonia plants.

A 10MW electrolyser powered by 12MW of existing Vestas turbines and 50MW of solar PV will produce hydrogen at the plant in Western Jutland, Denmark, for processing into ammonia.

Project developer Skovgaard Invest aims to build the facility by 2022, with backing from Vestas and chemicals technology specialist Haldor Topsoe in a partnership that will also seek public funding.

Green ammonia produced using renewable H₂ is seen as among the most promising areas for the emerging ‘power-to-X’ sector, thanks to its efficiency as a carrier of hydrogen and potential to decarbonise areas such as fertiliser production and shipping fuels.

Vestas has developed a bespoke green hydrogen system for the project “integrating electrolysis with wind and solar in one smart control system”, said a statement.

The grid-connected project is expected to produce 5,000 tonnes of ammonia annually and will export any surplus power to the wider network.

The first project will be used as a trial ahead of several more expected in Western Jutland, added the partners.

Vestas has highlighted power-to-X as a key area of focus as it integrates wind into new areas of the energy transition.

Kasper Roed Jensen, vice president in Vestas Innovation and Concepts, said: “This project signals a leap forward for the energy transition and highlights the viability of electrification beyond the power sector, already in the near future.”

The planed operation date of 2022 means the Danish project will be among the first dedicated commercial-scale green ammonia facilities.

Iberdrola and partner Fertiberia are targeting ammonia production in a huge project planned to come online from around the same time in Spain.

Orsted has linked with Danish fertiliser group Yara to plan a 100MW electrolyser for ammonia production powered by offshore wind, but that would be built in Denmark after the above projects.

Iberdrola and Orsted were among seven leaders in the sector to this week announce plans to drive down the cost of green hydrogen by half within six years.

Transition

Wind giant Vestas backs pioneering green ammonia project