U.S. ammonia plants developer First Ammonia has selected Australian engineering and professional services company Worley to deliver the front-end engineering design (FEED) for its flagship ammonia facility in Victoria, Texas.
As disclosed, the FEED study has a target completion date of Q1 2025, with construction expected to begin later in the year. Commercial operation is set to start in 2027.
This facility has an initial anticipated production capacity of 300 metric tonnes of electric ammonia per day and will utilize solid oxide electrolyzer technology (SOEC) for hydrogen production. Reportedly, this technology will set new standards in energy efficiency, by utilizing a process that is 30% more energy efficient compared to conventional electrolyzers.
Marc Van Den Boom, Senior Vice President of Gulf Coast Operations, commented: “We’re thrilled to partner with First Ammonia on this groundbreaking project. The plant is a pivotal step in delivering decarbonized energy solutions, and we look forward to supporting the project’s success.”
Joel Moser, CEO of First Ammonia, stated: “We are excited to be partnering with Worley, whose strong relationship with Topsoe, our technology licensor, and proven Gulf Coast expertise will help us decarbonize heavy industry, transport fuels, and power generation. Clean ammonia is essential in reducing emissions across hard-to-abate sectors, and Worley’s capabilities are vital for enabling decentralized, electric ammonia production.”
To remind, in October 2024, First Ammonia signed sales and service agreements with Danish technology company Topsoe for the production of the first solid oxide electrolyzers for the Texas ammonia project. The deal enables the fabrication of the first 100 MW SOEC modules to begin at Topsoe’s new factory in Herning, Denmark.
Kim Hedegaard, CEO of Power-to-X, Topsoe, said at the time: “Projects like the Port of Victoria green ammonia facility are vital to decarbonizing energy-intensive industries such as long-distance transportation and maritime shipping… We are thankful for First Ammonia’s trust in Topsoe and our technology and are excited by the opportunities that lie ahead.”