Wave energy added to wind and solar mix to power floating green ammonia project

Renewable energy company SwitcH2 has partnered with Swedish company CorPower Ocean to develop an industrial-scale floating green ammonia production facility partially powered by wave energy. 

The project, backed by Norway-based BW Offshore and Dutch Oceans Capital, aims to combine wind, solar, and wave power to drive electrolysis for green ammonia production in offshore environments, CorPower Ocean noted.

Leveraging proven floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) technology, SwitcH2’s NH3-FPSO concept is set to feature a 300 MW electrolysis plant mounted on a vessel approximately the size of a very large crude carrier (VLCC), according to the company. 

The facility is set to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, with production expected to commence by 2029.

Supported by grant funding from the Dutch Government’s GroenvermogenNL Top Sector Energie (TSE) scheme, SwitcH2 is aiming to launch a new open-sea project in northern Portugal utilizing CorPower Ocean’s wave energy technology.

“We are extremely pleased with our collaboration with CorPower Ocean as integrating their promising wave energy adds economic benefits to our already competitive offshore production system,” said SwitcH2 Director and co-founder, Saskia Kunst.

“Jointly we look at a buoyant market for green ammonia which is set to expand 6-fold between now and 2050. Our project will contribute to decarbonize also hard to abate sectors such as global shipping.”

In addition to its Portuguese project, CorPower Ocean said that SwitcH2 is exploring projects in West Africa and the Dutch North Sea, aimed at exporting green ammonia and hydrogen to Northwestern Europe and integrating into the Dutch national hydrogen backbone. 

CorPower Ocean Commercial Director, Kevin Rebenius, added: “Wave energy is one of the largest untapped energy source in the world. It’s renewable, accessible, and abundant. Crucially, it’s also highly consistent bringing greater stability to the clean energy mix, enabling 24/7 renewable electricity supply allowing industrial processes like this to run at high utilization. We look forward to working with fellow tech pioneer SwitcH2 with a shared vision for a cleaner, brighter future powered by renewables.”

Meanwhile, CorPower Ocean recently secured €32 million in Series B1 funding, the largest single investment in its wave energy technology.

In June, the Swedish company unveiled that its first commercial-scale wave energy device, C4, is nearing completion of on-land inspection and upgrades.