Walvis Bay green ammonia project eyes bunker fuel demand
Clean energy firm Zhero Europe expects its planned 500,000 mt green ammonia facility near Namibia’s Walvis Bay to serve maritime fuel demand, among other applications, the company said.
IMAGE: Aerial view on the coastline in Namibia and cargo port of the city Walvis Bay. Getty Images
The EU-backed, energy-transition-focused SDG Namibia One Fund recently announced up to $5.15 million in development funding for Zhero to complete the required development and feasibility work ahead of a final investment decision targeted for 2027.
The “Zhero Molecule Walvis Bay” project is expected to start commercial operations by 2030 and is projected to produce 500,000 mt/year of green ammonia, Zhero said in a statement.
The green ammonia produced at the facility could be used as a marine fuel,in fertiliser production and as an industrial feedstock.
Green ammonia is made by combining nitrogen from the air with hydrogen, and it is considered “green” when that hydrogen is produced by splitting water using renewable electricity instead of fossil fuels.
The electrolysis carried out for the green hydrogen production requires very large and continuous supplies of clean power.
The project will be powered by an integrated renewable energy system comprising 3 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity, 2.2 GWh of battery storage and 110 km of new transmission infrastructure, while a 1.6 GW electrolyser system will be used to produce the green hydrogen.
A desalination plant is also planned as part of the project to supply clean water required for the electrolysis.
By Nachiket Tekawade
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