Giga-scale green hydrogen project announced in Arctic Norway using world's first floating ammonia production vessel

H2Carrier, a Norwegian developer, seeks to erect two extensive offshore wind farms in Norway's northeastern region to generate green hydrogen and ammonia. This ambitious endeavor entails constructing a total of 1.55GW of wind power along the north coast of the Finnmark region. The generated energy will fuel the production of green hydrogen and ammonia aboard a specialized floating vessel.

Dubbed the True North Green Ammonia project, it aims to yield approximately 109,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, hinting at an electrolyser capacity of about 1GW, alongside 610,000 tonnes of green ammonia. Situated in Varanger and Skjøtnigberg/Nordkyn peninsulas near the Russian border, within the Arctic Circle, the region boasts some of the planet's most robust onshore winds, averaging around 10-11 meters per second, according to the Global Wind Atlas.

Central to the project is the utilization of H2Carrier's innovative P2XFloater, acclaimed as the "world's first floating production unit for producing green ammonia at industrial scale." This vessel eliminates the need for land leasing, storage tanks, or pier construction, streamlining the production process. Equipped with its own desalination unit, it harnesses seawater for electrolysis, facilitating the conversion of H2O into hydrogen and oxygen. Additionally, it facilitates ship-to-ship transfer of liquid ammonia through hoses, effectively doubling as an export terminal.

The project holds promise for stimulating local and regional economic growth, offering employment opportunities and augmenting public revenues in the surrounding small fishing villages. Currently, applications for approval have been submitted to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, signaling the project's nascent stage. Notably, H2Carrier had previously outlined similar plans for a green hydrogen and ammonia initiative in Greenland, utilizing 1.5GW of onshore wind and the P2XFloater vessel, although updates on this project have been scarce since its inception in early 2023.