Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi Ports are in negotiations for the development of an industrial scale green hydrogen-to-ammonia export project in Abu Dhabi.
Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group CEO, and Managing Director and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports, the companies will work together on developing proposals for a green ammonia export facility to be based in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).
The new plant would be fuelled by hydrogen produced by an electrolyser facility paired with a 2 GW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant.
The green hydrogen would be turned into liquid ammonia to supply ships converted to use ammonia as a bunker fuel and for export from Abu Dhabi Ports via specialized gas carriers.
The TAQA-Abu Dhabi Ports project will also feature a storage facility at Khalifa Port, opening the opportunity for it to become a hub for exporting green ammonia to international markets including Europe and the East Asia.
The solar farm, electrolyser and the ammonia production plant will be situated in KIZAD. The ammonia plant will have pipeline connectivity to the Khalifa Port storage facility enabling large volumes of ammonia to be directly delivered to the port.
Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group CEO and Managing Director, commented, “Green hydrogen requires large-scale low carbon electricity production and desalinated water.
“TAQA is an internationally recognized leader in both of these. We are pleased to have opened discussions with our partner Abu Dhabi Ports on developing proposals for a major industrial scale facility that, if it goes ahead, would place Abu Dhabi at the heart of the emerging market for green hydrogen.
“Combining the global reach of Abu Dhabi Ports with the energy and water know-how and established technology partnerships of TAQA could open up exciting opportunities for both companies, for our shareholders and for Abu Dhabi.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said, “We are pleased to initiate talks with TAQA, a national champion in the field of diversified utilities and energy, for the potential development of an industrial scale green hydrogen to ammonia export facility.
“This potential collaboration aims to address regional and global green energy needs, as well as supporting the goal of our nation’s leadership to position Abu Dhabi at the heart of the new emerging green energy market.”
Ammonia, which is relatively easier to transport than pure hydrogen, has a number of industrial uses and can also be easily turned back into hydrogen.
