Clean fuel exports

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi Ports are discussing the development of an industrial scale green hydrogen to ammonia export project in Abu Dhabi.

Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s group chief executive officer and managing director, commented: “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.”

Powering ships

Under an MoU signed on 7 July, 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 production plant would be fuelled by hydrogen produced by an electrolyser facility paired with a 2GW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant. The green hydrogen would be turned into liquid ammonia. The ammonia plant will have pipeline connectivity to a Khalifa Port storage facility enabling large volumes of ammonia to be directly delivered to the port.

Liquid ammonia would then be used to supply ships converted to use ammonia as a bunker fuel, and exported from Abu Dhabi Ports to international markets via specialised gas carriers.

TAQA explained that ammonia, which is relatively easier to transport than pure hydrogen, has several industrial uses and can also be easily turned back into hydrogen.