2025 AIChE Ammonia Safety Symposium
Venkat Pattabathula reports on the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Safety in Ammonia Plants and Related Facilities Symposium, held from September 7–11th 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Venkat Pattabathula reports on the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ (AIChE) Safety in Ammonia Plants and Related Facilities Symposium, held from September 7–11th 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
thyssenkrupp Uhde says that it has successfully commissioned a hydrogen recovery unit (HRU) at the Fertil ammonia-urea plant in Ruwais, owned by Fertiglobe, a global exporter of urea and ammonia. The scope of work included engineering, procurement and site supervision during installation and start-up of the units.
As part of the Japanese government’s Green Transformation scheme, two hydrogen producers have been selected to receive subsidies for low-carbon production projects. Out of the overall $1 trillion GX scheme, $51 billion is earmarked for hydrogen and ammonia investments, with the bulk going towards a long-term programme that subsidises the increased production costs. The first two recipients are a Toyota Tshuho-led consortium (electrolytic hydrogen for steel), and Resonac (hydrogen from used plastics for ammonia). In the programme, production projects are required to have the support of a major hydrogen consumer – in Resonac’s case, this is Japanese chemicals giant Nippon Shokubai, who will offtake the ammonia produced from lower-carbon hydrogen.
Kent, a global leader in integrated energy services, has been appointed by ACWA Power as owner’s engineer for the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, a major green hydrogen and ammonia export facility being developed in Saudi Arabia. Situated in the port city of Yanbu on the Red Sea, the project will feature full integration across the green hydrogen value chain. This includes its own dedicated renewable power generation, desalination plants, ammonia production lines and an export terminal. At full scale, the facility will deliver up to 400,000 t/a of renewable hydrogen, converted into over 2.2 million t/a of green ammonia for international markets. With more than 4 GW of electrolysis capacity planned, the Yanbu hub is expected to be nearly twice the size of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project.
ClassNK has added Japan's first hydrogen-fuelled tug Ten-Oh to its register, built by Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. This vessel was developed and built under the 'Nippon Foundation Zero Emission Ships Project', a grant program by The Nippon Foundation aimed at developing ships with zero CO2 emissions. Based on discussions among the parties involved during the planning stage of the vessel, ClassNK reviewed the safety requirements and countermeasures for hydrogen-fuelled ships by applying Part GF of its 'Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships' etc. These reviews focused on issues such as preventing explosions caused by the high ignitability of hydrogen and mitigating the potential impacts of hydrogen fuel leakage on crew members and the environment.
Travertine Technologies Inc's demonstration plant will produce 125 tonnes per year of sulfuric acid, 125 tonnes per year of calcium carbonate, and 55 tonnes per year of gross carbon dioxide sequestration
ACWA Power appoint Kent as Owner's Engineer for green hydrogen hub set to deliver up to 400,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year.
thyssenkrupp nucera says that it has successfully completed the acquisition of key technology assets from Danish company Green Hydrogen Systems (GHS), as announced in June. The transaction was finalised following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals and the consent of the court-appointed insolvency administrator. The asset deal includes intellectual property as well as a test facility with a full-size prototype in Skive, Denmark.
Jilin Electric Power says that it has commissioned one of the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plants in Jilin Province. Jilin says that this is the world’s largest operating green ammonia plant, with a capacity of up to 32,000 t/a of green hydrogen and 180,000 t/a of green ammonia; the largest combined PEM and alkaline electrolyser system, combining 196 MW of alkaline electrolysis and 52 MW of PEM electrolysis, respectively; and the world’s largest block of solid-state hydrogen storage - 48,000 Nm3. The plant is fed by 800 MW of installed renewable power. The green ammonia is EU-certified under low-carbon fuel standards, and offtake agreements are in place with companies located in Europe, Japan and South Korea.
Linde has received a e4.3 million ($4.7 million) funding commitment to build a new 5MW alkaline electrolysis plant in Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, adding to the region’s growing hydrogen infrastructure. The project, which complements Linde’s existing 24 MW facility, is scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026 and is expected to produce 450 t/a of green hydrogen for local industrial customers via pipeline distribution. The funding was formally awarded on August 13 by Saxony-Anhalt’s Economics Minister Prof. Dr. Armin Willingmann, backed by the state’s “Future Energy” programme and the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).