Hyrasia One: mega-ammonia in Kazakhstan

Hyrasia One, the ambitious renewable hydrogen and ammonia mega-project by Svevind Energy in Kazakhstan, has now entered the pre-FEED phase. This project, located on the vast Kazakh Steppe in the Mangystau region, has a significant capacity goal of producing 2 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, which is equivalent to 11 million tonnes of ammonia per year.

The pre-FEED phase, set to be completed by the end of the current year, consists of two primary components. The first aspect involves developing wind and solar parks with a combined capacity of 40 GW to support the renewable energy requirements. The second component focuses on constructing an industrial-scale facility responsible for hydrogen and ammonia production. Essential utilities, such as desalination plants, air separation units, water management systems, and electrolyser types, will also be determined during this phase.

To gather data for the subsequent stages, geological drilling has been initiated to assess underground geological formations. Svevind has partnered with Genesis, a subsidiary of Technip Energies, a French engineering and technology company, for this purpose.

Following the investment agreement with the Kazakh government last year, environmental impact assessments are currently underway. With the pre-FEED phase underway, the next steps involve conducting a full environmental and social impact assessment ahead of the final investment decision (FID) scheduled for 2026. Construction is anticipated to commence in 2027, and the first deliveries are expected by 2030. The project aims to achieve full capacity by 2032 and beyond.

The primary objective of the Hyrasia One project is to harness Kazakhstan's vast wind and solar energy resources, aligning with the strong political commitment from Kazakh, German, and European governments to promote the adoption of 'green molecules.' Additionally, Kazakhstan's strategic location makes it an ideal hub for the hydrogen market, linking major European markets to demand centers in East Asia.

Furthermore, the project presents opportunities for downstream products like green steel, aluminium, fertilizers, and cement by leveraging the abundance of raw materials, including rare earths, and utilizing renewable energy sources. This is expected to have a positive impact on the country's economy and generate employment opportunities.

The project partners have set a goal to offer at least 90% of the operational phase jobs to locals in the Mangystau region, contributing to capacity-building efforts. To support this objective, Svevind is partly funding the Mangystau School for Sustainable Engineering, which aims to equip young Kazakhs with engineering expertise for sustainable projects.