AFRY comes on board Australia’s flagship green ammonia project

Australian company Allied Green Ammonia (AGA) has awarded AFRY, a global provider of engineering, design, digital and advisory services, the owner’s engineering assignment for its flagship green ammonia project in the Northern Territory, Australia.

As informed, AFRY’s role will cover the design of a self-sustaining renewable power and distribution system to supply electricity to AGA’s green ammonia production facility.

Ammonia is an essential component in the chemical industry and in agricultural fertilizers, however, its conventional production generates significant carbon emissions. By using a 100% renewable energy in the production process, AGA’s green ammonia project is envisioned to play a central role in the decarbonization of hard-to-electrify sectors of the economy, such as long-haul trucking, aviation, shipping and heavy industry.

The renewable power plant will consist of an estimated 4.75 GW of solar power, combined with battery energy storage, and will power 3 GW of hydrogen electrolyser capacity. The project will produce almost one million tonnes of green ammonia annually, equivalent to a displacement of 1.8 million tonnes of global carbon emissions annually.

AFRY’s engineering services cover the review of the basic engineering design of the solar farm, its electrical systems and the integration of the battery energy storage system (BESS). The solar farm will generate low-cost renewable energy, while the BESS provides higher utilization of the hydrogen and ammonia production plant by shifting some of the renewable energy generated during daylight hours to the evening and morning.

“AFRY has been selected due to its extensive engineering capabilities and experience in developing large-scale renewable energy projects within the Asia Pacific region and Australia, with specific expertise in the renewable energy plant design,” Alfred Benedict, AGA’s Managing Director, said.

“AFRY is excited and honoured to be part of this landmark project, which significantly contributes to Australia’s green ammonia export capacity and the regional transition to lower-carbon fuels. With AFRY’s extensive track record spanning over 500 solar power projects, 140 battery storage projects and more than 200 assignments in green hydrogen and ammonia projects, we are confident in our ability to add value to projects like this,” Petteri Härkki, AFRY’s Regional Director, commented.

Last month, AGA signed a contract with SPG Steiner, a German-based EPCM contractor for the energy, petrochemical and chemical industries, for the supply of two large-scale 40,000-tonne cryogenic full containment double-wall ammonia storage tanks and an associated refrigeration system.

These tanks will store 950,000 tonnes per year of green ammonia produced by AGA and shipped to its offtake partner.