Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi Ports are in discussions to establish a large-scale green hydrogen to ammonia export project in Abu Dhabi.
A collaboration between TAQA and Abu Dhabi Ports on a green hydrogen to ammonia project of this magnitude would be a key step toward establishing Abu Dhabi at the center of a new emergent global market for green energy.
The companies will collaborate on developing proposals for a green ammonia export facility to be located in Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Industrial Zone, according to an agreement signed by Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, and Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Abu Dhabi Ports’ Group CEO (KIZAD). The new plant would run on hydrogen generated by an electrolyzer and a 2 GW photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant. The green hydrogen would be converted to liquid ammonia for supply to ships modified to use ammonia as a bunker fuel and export through specialized gas carriers from Abu Dhabi Ports. Ammonia, which is more easily transported than pure hydrogen, has a variety of industrial applications and can be easily converted back to hydrogen.
Additionally, the TAQA-Abu Dhabi Ports project will include a storage facility at Khalifa Port, allowing it to serve as a center for exporting green ammonia to foreign markets such as Europe and East Asia. KIZAD will host the solar farm, electrolyser, and ammonia production plant. The ammonia plant will be connected to the Khalifa Port’s storage facility through a pipeline, allowing huge volumes of ammonia to be transported directly to the port.
Jasim Husain Thabet, TAQA’s Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, commented: “Green hydrogen requires large-scale low carbon electricity production and desalinated water. TAQA is an internationally recognized leader in both of these. 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.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Group CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, said: “We are pleased to initiate talks with TAQA, a national champion in the field of diversified utilities and energy, for the potential development of an industrial scale green hydrogen to ammonia export facility. This potential collaboration aims to address regional and global green energy needs, as well as supporting the goal of our nation’s leadership to position Abu Dhabi at the heart of the new emerging green energy market.”
He added: “With its strategic location between the East and the West, its proximity to KIZAD and Zonescorp, as well as the multimodal connectivity through sea, air and land linking Abu Dhabi to global markets, Khalifa Port is in an ideal position to become a major hub for green hydrogen and its derivatives exports to all international markets”.
