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Yara's new 24 MW hydrogen plant uses renewable energy to produce hydrogen and ammonia, contributing to sustainability and CO2 reduction
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store inaugurated the 24 MW renewable hydrogen plant in industrial park Heroya, the largest of its kind currently operating in Europe. Hydrogen is produced with water electrolysis and renewable energy, replacing natural gas as a raw material and reducing 41.000 tons of site CO2 emissions annually.
Features of the renewable energy project
Yara International today inaugurated Europe's largest electrolyser in the industrial park on the Herøya peninsula, Norway. Manufactured by British company ITM Power, this 24 megawatt proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyser was initially sold to Linde Engineering, who were involved in the complete design of the plant together with Yara.
Since September, this electrolyser has been producing up to ten tons of renewable hydrogen per day. In addition, fertilizer (ammonia) is manufactured from renewable energy, also using Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.
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CONSTRUCTION – FREE MARKET
Power project details
- Site surface: Approximately 1,5 square kilometers.
- Annual fertilizer production: 3 million tons.
- Electrolyzer production capacity: 24 megawatts.
- Daily hydrogen production: Up to 10 tons.
- Annual ammonia production: 20.000 tons.
- Reduction of CO2 emissions: 40.000 tons annually.
The inauguration of the 24 MW electrolyser is an important milestone for Yara and for the decarbonization of value chains in the food industry, shipping and other energy-intensive sectors.
Words from Yara's president and CEO
Hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy, replacing natural gas as a raw material, which allows the reduction of approximately 40.000 tons of annual CO2 emissions on site.
Fertilizers produced and supplied with a low CO2 footprint will form part of a new portfolio called Yara Climate Choice. These solutions not only benefit crops, but also contribute to the decarbonization of the food value chain.
In addition to fertilizers produced through water electrolysis and renewable energy, Yara will also include low-carbon ammonia-based fertilizers in its portfolio, produced with the help of carbon capture and storage (CCS).
CCS as key to the Paris Agreement
Renewable ammonia is a key piece in the decarbonization puzzle, but industrial scale-up takes time. The year 2030 is approaching, so we are also working on low-carbon ammonia production with CCS to facilitate the hydrogen economy and develop emerging markets for low-emission ammonia.
Statements from the CEO of Yara Clean Ammonia
In 2023, Yara signed a CO2 transport and storage agreement with Northern Lights, the world's first cross-border CCS agreement. Yara aims to reduce its annual CO2 emissions from ammonia production in Yara Sluiskil, Netherlands, by 800.000 tonnes. Additionally, Yara is evaluating one or two low-carbon ammonia production projects with CCS in the United States.
Holsether added that “green transformation requires investment, reliable framework conditions, a massive expansion of renewables and networks, constantly developing technology and a mature market where supply and demand develop in parallel. Companies that take these challenges seriously will have a competitive advantage.”
Energy electrolyzer technical details
- Electrolyzer: 24 MW PEM electrolyser by ITM Power (UK)
- Capacity: Hydrogen >99 percent / 30 bar
- Application: Ammonia production
- Hydrogen Capacity: 10 tons per day
- State: Production stable, not yet at full capacity
- Ammonia production: 20.000 tons per year
- Avoid CO2 emissions: 40.000 tons per year
- Design: Linde Engineering, Dresden
This project marks a significant step forward towards sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions, aligning with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and positioning Yara as a leader in the energy transition and sustainable fertilizer production.
With www.yara.com
How an energy electrolyzer works
What is an energy electrolyzer?
An electrolyzer is a machine that uses electricity to split water into two parts: hydrogen and oxygen. It's like a magical machine that takes water and separates it into its smaller parts.
How does an energy electrolyzer work?
Imagine you have a battery, a glass of water and two pencils. This is more or less how it works:
- Water and electricity: In the electrolyzer, water (H2O) and electricity are used. Water is made up of small parts called molecules, and each water molecule has two parts hydrogen (H) and one part oxygen (O).
- Two pencils in the water: Now, imagine that we put two pencils in water. One is connected to the positive side of the battery (the anode) and the other to the negative side (the cathode).
- We connect the battery: When we connect the battery, electricity starts flowing through the water. This electricity has enough energy to separate water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
- gas bubbles: As the electricity passes through the water, bubbles begin to form on the pencils. In the pencil connected to the negative side (the cathode), hydrogen bubbles form. In the pencil connected to the positive side (the anode), oxygen bubbles form.
- Collect hydrogen and oxygen: The bubbles rise to the surface of the water, and we can collect the hydrogen and oxygen in different containers. Now we have separated hydrogen and oxygen.
What is this for?
The hydrogen we obtain can be used as a very clean type of fuel. When we burn hydrogen for energy, it only produces water and does not pollute the air. This is very good for the environment because it does not produce gases that cause climate change.
What can you power with 24 MW of energy?
A 24 megawatt (MW) electrolyzer is a fairly powerful installation, and the amount of energy it can produce or consume can be put into perspective in several ways. Here are some comparisons to better understand what you can power with 24 MW:
Industrial Energy Applications
- Production Plants: A medium to large production plant in the manufacturing industry could operate with a capacity of 24 MW. This includes automobile factories, chemical plants, and large food processing facilities.
- Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production: A 24 MW electrolyzer can produce up to 10 tons of hydrogen per day, which is enough to power fleets of hydrogen vehicles, industrial facilities that use hydrogen as a raw material or energy source, and ammonia plants.
Home Energy
- Residences: Approximately 24 MW of capacity could supply energy to around 16.000 to 20.000 homes in Europe, assuming an average consumption of 1,2 to 1,5 kilowatts per home (this number may vary depending on the energy efficiency of the homes and the climate of the home). region).
Energy transport
- Electric Vehicles: This amount of energy could charge around 240 electric vehicles simultaneously, assuming a charging capacity of 100 kW per fast charging station.
- Electric Trains: A high-speed electric train may require between 6 and 12 MW to operate. Therefore, 24 MW could power between 2 and 4 high-speed electric trains simultaneously.
Public Infrastructure
- Public Buildings: A small city or a group of government buildings, hospitals and schools could be powered with 24 MW, depending on its size and specific energy consumption.
It doesn't explain the essential: from which renewable source is electricity obtained? (Waste, hydroelectricity, wind, photovoltaic?) Without this we are left like **** believing the company's promises.
Water alone does not decompose into oxygen and hydrogen, an ionic component is necessary, for example table salt (NaCl s**** chloride), which will produce hydrogen, chlorine gas and caustic soda.
Despite the good and pertinent questions from the participants in this chat, I want to focus on the good teaching methods of the team that produced this article: at the end of it, they provided an explanation of how this energy source works and how it can be applied, in a language that can be understood by a layperson, which is my case.