ADNOC and thyssenkrupp to develop large-scale ammonia projects in partnership
Under the agreement, the companies will work together to develop large-scale ammonia cracking plants with thyssenkrupp technology
ADNOC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with thyssenkrupp Uhde – the German-based subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Group and a specialist in chemical engineering – to explore a long-term partnership to create new markets for hydrogen and promote global clean energy value chains.
In a statement, ADNOC said that the agreement, which was signed at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will focus on the development of projects for large-scale ammonia cracking, which is used to extract hydrogen from ammonia after transportation.
Under the agreement, the companies will work together to develop large-scale ammonia cracking plants with thyssenkrupp technology. The agreement will also lead to the exploration of opportunities in the clean energy value chain for the supply and shipment of low-carbon or green ammonia from the UAE to large-scale ammonia cracking facilities globally.
Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director, Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth Directorate said, “ADNOC’s fast-growing hydrogen business is enabled by the UAE’s abundant and competitive energy reserves. We are committed to strengthening our position as a reliable supplier of lower carbon-intensive energy, creating new revenue streams, and growing the global market for hydrogen. In doing so, we will work with like-minded partners, such as thyssenkrupp to deliver tangible solutions that contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy sector.”
In early January 2022, ADNOC awarded a $946mn EPC contract for the long-term development of the Umm Shaif field.
Ammonia is a carrier of hydrogen, and it is much easier to compress and transport. When shipped, after arriving at its destination, the ammonia needs to be decomposed or ‘cracked’ into hydrogen, before it is used in the energy value chain, the statement explained.
The ammonia cracking process is based on globally proven uhde reformer technology, which is applied in over 130 large-scale chemical plants across the world, the statement added.
Cord Landsmann, thyssenkrupp Uhde CEO remarked, “Countries in Europe, along with many others, are looking to clean hydrogen imports to decarbonise industry and society. Clean ammonia is the best way to transport hydrogen by ship, and together with ADNOC, we will deliver the last piece of the puzzle for global clean hydrogen trade at large scale.”
ADNOC has already invested in low-carbon ammonia, where the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during production is captured and stored underground.
Late in January 2022, Hitachi Energy said it won an ADNOC power transmission contract.
In May 2021, the company announced a one million tons per year low-carbon ammonia production facility at the TA’ZIZ industrial ecosystem and chemicals hub. The company said it has significantly expanded its strategic energy partnerships across the hydrogen value chain and shipped demonstration cargoes of low-carbon ammonia to customers in Germany and Asia to test its application.
ADNOC said it is also investing in green hydrogen – and renewable energy – through Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), a clean-energy powerhouse that will place the UAE at the forefront of the energy transition. Through this investment, ADNOC said that it aims to become a world leader in green hydrogen.
In early November 2022, Baker Hughes and ADNOC said they would develop sustainable energy solutions.
