South Africa’s Green Ammonia Plant Gets Wind Power Boost

South Africa is set to become a global leader in green ammonia production, thanks to a landmark deal between Hive Hydrogen and Genesis Eco-Energy Developments. The two companies have agreed to supply 395 megawatts of wind power to the Coega Green Ammonia hub, a $5.8 billion project that will produce one million tons of green ammonia per year.

Green ammonia is a carbon-free fuel that can be used to power various industries and transport sectors, such as shipping, aviation, and mining. It is produced by using renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and then combining the hydrogen with nitrogen from the air.

The Coega Green Ammonia hub, located in the Eastern Cape province, is a flagship investment project in South Africa that has been awarded Strategic Integrated Project Status by the Ministry of Public Works in November 2022. It is expected to create thousands of jobs and boost the local economy, as well as contribute to the country’s climate goals and energy security.

The project will require a total of 3,480 megawatts of renewable energy, which will be generated by solar and wind farms in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces. The first phase of the project, which will start construction in 2025 and commissioning in 2028, will use 3.6 gigawatts of renewable energy, of which 395 megawatts will come from Genesis Eco-Energy’s two wind farms.

Genesis Eco-Energy is one of South Africa’s pioneering renewable energy companies that has been developing and implementing clean energy solutions since 2001. It has a portfolio of 6.5 gigawatts of renewable energy and energy storage projects in strategic locations across the country.

Hive Hydrogen is part of the Hive Energy Group, a UK-based company that has been involved in the global renewable energy sector since 2010. It has operations in 14 countries and has delivered over 1.5 gigawatts of solar projects worldwide.

The agreement between Hive Hydrogen and Genesis Eco-Energy is a significant milestone for the Coega Green Ammonia project, as it ensures a reliable and cost-effective supply of power for the plant. It also benefits the national grid, as it enables other independent power producers to connect their generation assets and reduce load shedding.

The Coega Green Ammonia project is a visionary initiative that will put South Africa at the forefront of the green hydrogen and ammonia market, which is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. It will also demonstrate the potential of renewable energy to transform the country’s economy and society, while protecting the environment and fighting climate change.

Source: Mining Weekly