Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has unveiled plans to build Europe’s largest power-to-x facility in the Danish port of Esbjerg to convert power from offshore wind into green ammonia.
The company said the plant will consist of 1GW of electrolysis and that the ammonia will be used as both as agricultural fertiliser and as fuel for the shipping industry.
Excess heat from the facility will also be used to heat nearby homes.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding for the project with companies from the agriculture and shipping sector, including Danish Crown, Arla, DLG, A.P, Moller-Maersk and DFDS.
“The agriculture and shipping industries are industries which are embarking on a journey of decarbonisation.
“Solutions such as power-to-x are key for these industries to take the next big leap within the decarbonization,” said CIP senior partner Christian Skakkebæk.
CIP said the development could cut CO2 emissions by around 1.5 million tons per year but did not give a cost or time frame for the delivery of the green ammonia plant.
AP Moller-Maersk said it hopes to have its first carbon neutral vessel on the water by 2023.
“This vessel will be running on carbon neutral methanol. Nevertheless, we consider green ammonia as a promising option for marine fuels and a dual fuel engine for ammonia is under development,” said fleet chief executive Henriette Hallberg Thygesen.
Esbjerg mayor Jesper Frost Rasmussen said the port’s offshore wind heritage made it a natural home for the facility.
“For the past 10 years, we have been at the centre of Europe and the world’s shipping of wind turbines. Now, we are embarking on a new era which Esbjerg will become the centre of green energy in the entire North Sea region.”