Philadelphia Solar to build green ammonia plant in Jordan

Jordan-based solar panel manufacturer Philadelphia Solar will build a plant to produce 200,000 mt/year of green ammonia using renewable energy in Jordan.

PHOTO: Al Husainiyah Solar Park in Jordan jointly owned by Philadelphia Solar and Dubai-based AMEA Power. AMEA Power

The company has not yet disclosed when the facility will begin operations or whether a portion of production will be allocated for the shipping sector.

However, green ammonia as a bunker fuel is one of the best options for decarbonising shipping because of its zero-emission properties.

The versatility of green ammonia to serve as a potential hydrogen carrier for long-distance transport could help in reducing costs associated with storing and transporting hydrogen. Philadelphia Solar estimates that 200,000 mt/year of green ammonia is roughly equivalent to 40,000 mt/year of green hydrogen.

Hydrogen can be extracted from ammonia through a process called ammonia cracking. In this process, ammonia molecules are broken down into hydrogen and nitrogen molecules. It is typically done at temperatures of 850-950°C using a nickel catalyst, according to the Ammonia Energy Association.

Moreover, Jordan has extensive natural and land resources that can be harnessed to generate renewable energy and produce green fuels for the shipping sector. Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk has partnered with the Jordanian government to study the feasibility of producing green marine fuels, including green ammonia and methanol in the region.

By Konica Bhatt

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