Yara International officially opened its new ammonia import terminal in Brunsbüttel, Germany, on 2 October. With the new terminal, Yara has the infrastructure to enable imports of up to three million tonnes of low-emission ammonia to Europe annually.
Brunsbüttel is located on the North Sea and Kiel Canal, making it an ideal hub for enabling the hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe.
The terminal is part of Yara‘s strategy to strengthen its core nitrogen business while generating value-accretive growth in a low-carbon future.
Fiver per cent of 2030 European hydrogen target
Up to 3 million tonnes of low-CO2 ammonia can be imported annually via the terminal in Brunsbüttel. This would correspond to 530,000 tonnes of hydrogen or around five per cent of the total European hydrogen target for 2030.
With its significant import capacity, Yara’s new terminal will play an important role in enabling the German hydrogen strategy and contribute to the country’s energy transition.
Also read: Yara and NCL plan first ammonia-powered container ship
Using ammonia or cracking it to hydrogen
The ammonia can be delivered directly from the terminal to the point of use, where it could be cracked to low-emission hydrogen. The competitiveness of German industry, not least steel and chemicals, can only be maintained through decarbonisation. This can be achieved through cracking low-emission ammonia to hydrogen, for which significant quantities of ammonia will be needed.
Low-emission ammonia is produced by electrolysis using renewable electricity or using carbon capture and storage (CCS). Low-emission ammonia has key advantages that makes it attractive as a decarbonisation product in hard-to-abate sectors. This includes the traditional ammonia use such as fertilizers, but also new applications such as a low-emission shipping fuel, emission cuts for refineries, power generation, and as a hydrogen carrier.
Also read: Yara to ship captured CO2 to Norway for subsea storage
Partnership Germany and Norway
Demand for low-emission ammonia in Germany is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection estimates that up to seventy per cent of future national ammonia requirements will have to be imported by 2030. After this, the volumes will be even higher.
The energy partnership between Germany and Norway plays a key role. In June, Yara officially opened its renewable hydrogen pilot plant in Norway, the plant is the largest of its kind in Europe and represents an important steppingstone towards a low-carbon future.
Picture (top): Brunsbüttel plant and port (by Yara).
Also read: Yara Marine to equip four Stena Line vessels with shore power solutions
