Norwegian chemical producer Yara International has opened a low-emission ammonia import terminal in Germany, which could meet 5% of Europe’s hydrogen target for 2030.

The facility in Brunsbüteel, Germany has capacity to import 3 million tonnes/year of low-emission ammonia. This can be converted into 530,000 t/y of hydrogen, Kallanish learns from Yara.

Ammonia is considered the ideal energy carrier for hydrogen transportation thanks to its high energy density and mature storage and transport infrastructure. Yet, converting ammonia into hydrogen demands additional investment in cracking technology – a process that cracks ammonia back to hydrogen and nitrogen using a catalytic furnace and elevated temperatures.

The terminal’s “strategic location” on the North Sea and the Kiel Canal, enables it to become a key import hub for German and other European end-users. The ammonia can be delivered directly from the terminal to the point of use, where it could be cracked into low-emission hydrogen.

“The competitiveness of German industry, not least steel and chemicals, can only be maintained through decarbonisation,” the company comments. “With its significant import capacity, Yara’s new terminal in Brunsbüttel will play an important role in enabling the German hydrogen strategy and contribute to the country’s energy transition.”

As the world’s largest shipper and distributor of ammonia, Yara Clean Ammonia says it can provide both green and blue ammonia supply to German users at “competitive prices.” Without elaborating on values, it also notes the start of green hydrogen and ammonia production in Norway. Its new 24-megawatt green hydrogen plant at Herøya Industrial Park, inaugurated in June, is deemed the largest of its kind currently operating in Europe.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that demand from steel manufacturing, refining and chemicals production could lead to a demand of 1.5m t/y of low-emission hydrogen demand by 2030, three times more than today.

Since September 2023, three low-emission hydrogen tenders have been launched by German steelmakers. Salzgitter is seeking up to 141,000 t/y with deliveries starting in 2027; thyssenkrupp Steel Europe is tendering 10-yea contracts for 143,000 t/y starting in 2028; and Stahl-Holding-Saar wants to purchase 50,000 t/y to be delivered via the MosaHyc pipeline from 2027.