The commissioning of the Da’an Wind and Solar Green Hydrogen Synthesis Ammonia Integration Demonstration Project in Jilin province marks a critical test case for large-scale renewable-to-hydrogen-to-ammonia conversion. With 800 megawatts of installed capacity—700 MW from wind and 100 MW from solar—the project is designed to produce 32,000 tons of hydrogen and 180,000 tons of ammonia annually, positioning it as the largest single-unit green ammonia facility globally.
While the production figures are significant, the broader implications lie in system integration and market alignment. The project utilizes excess renewable energy to drive electrolysis, converting water into hydrogen, which is then combined with nitrogen for ammonia synthesis. By channeling otherwise curtailed wind and solar power into industrial chemistry, the Da’an plant addresses one of China’s pressing energy challenges: how to manage intermittent renewable output while reducing reliance on coal-heavy grids.
According to Jilin Electric Power, full-scale operations could reduce annual carbon emissions by approximately 650,000 tons and save 230,000 tons of standard coal. For context, this reduction is roughly equivalent to eliminating the yearly carbon footprint of nearly half a million typical households in China—a metric that underscores its potential environmental contribution. However, achieving those savings at scale will depend on maintaining stable electrolyzer performance, grid integration efficiency, and consistent renewable power generation in a region known for seasonal variability.
Commercial strategy also plays a central role. Jilin Electric has already secured offtake agreements with European, Japanese, and South Korean buyers, including Electricité de France’s Chinese subsidiary and Royal Vopak Group. These early contracts suggest that international demand for green ammonia is maturing, though global price competitiveness remains uncertain as production costs in Asia, transport logistics, and certification standards continue to evolve.
Industry analysts note that projects like Da’an could reshape renewable energy economics in northern China. A photovoltaic investor told Yicai that as more large-scale wind-solar-hydrogen-ammonia plants come online, new consumption models for surplus electricity will emerge—linking power generation more tightly to chemical and fuel markets. Future capacity expansion across hydrogen derivatives will likely hinge on policy support, carbon pricing frameworks, and long-term demand growth from shipping, fertilizers, and potential power generation applications.
