Zero Emission Ammonia Production

With Topsoe SOEC & Dynamic Ammonia Solutions

Project Highlights

First Ammonia is a pioneering integrated green ammonia producer developing modular, commercial scale plants utilizing SOEC electrolysis technology. Based in New York, First Ammonia is developing a global network of dynamic plants designed to convert intermittent renewable energy into ammonia — a highly transportable and storable fuel and hydrogen carrier that can enable the rise and success of the hydrogen economy.

First Ammonia’s first plants under development in the United States are expected to be fully operational in 2026 and will be the world’s first commercial scale green ammonia production facilities. First Ammonia has established an initial plan for 500MW of electrolyzer capacity for the production of up to 5 million metric tons of green ammonia per year and is currently building its flagship ammonia plant in Port of Victoria, Texas.

Key Facts

Client(s): First Ammonia

Technology: Topsoe SOEC, Topsoe Ammonia Loop and Catalyst Package

Capacity: 5m metric tonnes/year of green ammonia

Impact: Potential to eliminate 13m tons of CO2, the equivalent of taking 9m petrol cars off the road

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_ SOEC Electrolyzer

Ultra-Efficient Electrolyzer

With it's ability to integrate waste heat into the electrolysis process, Topsoe's SOEC electrolyzer allows for the lowest levelized cost of hydrogen production.

Topsoe_Icon_RGB_ ModuLite Solution eMethanol

Dynamic Ammonia Loop

Built around Topsoe's proven S-series ammonia converter, ensuring maximum efﬁciency and reliability via a straightforward, energy-efﬁcient process.

Complete Catalyst Package

Topsoe is delivering a complete catalyst package, carefully engineered to unleash maximum efficiency.

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Holistic service approach

Supported by our experts, under a guaranteed O&M performance program to ensure safe, efficient and compliant operation of the entire plant.

Topsoe's role

Topsoe’s SOEC electrolyzer and dynamic ammonia loop technology will be installed in First Ammonia’s green ammonia plants around the world in the coming years. Because of SOEC's ability to integrate waste heat into its electrolysis process — allowing for the lowest levelized hydrogen cost at the highest level of energy efficiency at megawatt or gigawatt volume — Topsoe was the natural choice to be the sole ammonia tech supplier for First Ammonia's ammonia plants.

Sundus Cordelia Ramli, Chief Commercial Officer at Power-to-X, Topsoe says: “The collaboration now means that we’re helping to realize each other’s visions. First Ammonia is helping us commercialize our technology and make strides in Power-to-X – turning electricity into carbon-neutral fuels. Meanwhile, our technology is the key to First Ammonia producing green ammonia at scale.”

Harnessing the combined power of SOEC and Topsoe’s dynamic ammonia loop

Topsoe's SOEC technology is designed in a modular format, harnessing high-temperature electrolysis, a well-established method that enables large-scale generation of green hydrogen from renewable energy sources. The inherent rapid reaction kinetics and enhanced conductivity characteristic of high-temperature electrolysis result in Topsoe's SOEC technology yielding a higher hydrogen output per unit of power input compared to alkaline and PEM electrolysis alternatives. Moreover, when integrated with heat-generating processes like those in ammonia, SOEC ensures the lowest cost of hydrogen production and the highest energy efficiency per unit of electricity.

The advantages of SOEC are further enhanced when paired with Topsoe’s dynamic ammonia loop technology, which leverages the combined power of the S-300 Converter and the K1M ammonia synthesis catalyst. First, Topsoe’s S-300 radial ﬂow ammonia converter is designed with three catalyst beds with radial flow which allows for higher conversion rates using small catalyst particles. This results in higher overall catalyst activity, meaning greater overall efﬁciency and higher proﬁt margins. This provides the perfect environment for Topsoe’s K1M ammonia synthesis catalyst, selected due to its ability to ensure high and stable activity, resulting in a very long lifetime and record production rates.

Making history at Port of Victoria

The flagship project in Port of Victoria is, according to Kevin Barnes, Global Head of Construction and Technology for First Ammonia, a groundbreaking venture. “For us, it is truly exciting on three main levels. First, we are thrilled to be a part of Topsoe’s journey presenting the world’s first modular SOEC delivery. Second, it is a very exciting project for First Ammonia because we want to prove that a modular approach to building green ammonia plants is not only possible, but optimal. Finally, this flagship project will serve as a demonstration proving that green ammonia production and the heat integration from the SOEC will work and optimize efficiency.”

As the first major delivery from Topsoe’s SOEC factory in Herning, demonstrating the efficiency and impact of SOEC in the Port of Victoria’s industrial settings is an important milestone in the history of Topsoe’s SOEC development.

Perfect Site Conditions for PtX and Ammonia Production

An essential component to making a Power-to-X project successful is finding a suitable site location. At the most basic level, a site needs to have ready access to renewable power, an ample supply of water, suitable infrastructure that enables transportation to off takers, and a permitting regime that enables, rather than deters, a project’s progress. While the baseline metrics for success may be, on the surface, quite simple, finding all of them in one location along with all the additional requirements needed for projects of this complexity is anything but straightforward. This is why the selected site on 115 acres in Port of Victoria Texas is an exceptional outlier, and a near perfect starting ground for First Ammonia and Topsoe’s collaboration.

Set in Texas, a renewable energy powerhouse

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Texas is the US’s top renewable energy producer, with between 25% to 41% of the state’s energy demand being met by renewable sources, depending on the month. With an ample amount of renewable energy already present in the grid, Port of Victoria offers the possibility to power PtX projects now, without the need to wait for further renewables build-out.

Water Sources

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The Port of Victoria has direct access to the Gulf of Mexico through an inland channel and also has large reserves of groundwater. With the deep water well permit already acquired by First Ammonia, Barnes says that “we could already run 500 megawatts onsite, that’s already a given.” While this is currently set to be the projects primary water source, the canal provides a backup solution that could enable First Ammonia to supplement their groundwater supply with fresh water if need be.

Infrastructure and access to off takers

In ammonia production, safe and accessible transport are non-negotiables in running a local plant. “For ammonia, we looked into a given infrastructure that enables us to not only transport the ammonia from A to B, but also be able to access larger ships that will connect us to off-takers outside of the US” Barnes explains. “In our case, the Port of Victoria site is a bit inland, but set between Houston and Corpus Christi, you can easily access the larger ammonia hubs that are already in the area of the Gulf Coast.” All of this access is further enabled by the sites direct connection to a dock, allowing easy transport via barge to larger shipping centrals.

Permitting

Partnership with the local community

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In the immediate areas surrounding Port of Victoria, there is a large talent pool that the plant can pull from, with 50 locally sourced jobs being immediately created once the plant is fully operational in 2025. For new generations of talent, First Ammonia is exploring potential collaborations with local universities, equipping them with digital renderings to create a virtual plant that can be used for coursework, simulations, and training.

“I think this integration into the community is very important. Our contribution is not just building one plant and then bringing a team into operate it, there's a direct connection to the local community.” - Kevin Barnes, First Ammonia

The future of green ammonia

Ammonia is a highly versatile relative of hydrogen. It’s possible uses include a wide variety of applications, from fueling ships to producing nitrogen-based fertilizer, which currently relies on natural gas. It can also replace coal-fired power stations – Japan aims to replace 20% of coal with ammonia in power generation by 2030 – as fuel for aviation or as an energy carrier. As Moser explains: ‘Hydrogen is more complicated to store, transport, and use, and it’s expensive to liquefy. Adding nitrogen to make ammonia gives a substance that’s easy to use and handle, easy to store and easier to transport.’

First Ammonia’s planned production process uses power generated by solar and wind facilities at peak times, but that grids can’t accommodate. Using this excess power to make ultra-low ammonia means it doesn’t go to waste. Once the ammonia is available, it can also store power, acting like a liquid battery. This could in turn create more demand for renewable power facilities because more of the electricity they generate will be used, either to produce ammonia or be stored within it.

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