Green Ammonia Linz

Introduction

The GRAMLI (Green Ammonia Linz) project will build a large-scale Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser (60 megawatt (MW)), which will produce renewable hydrogen to be used in the production of renewable ammonia to decarbonise industrial processes. The primary aim of the project is to demonstrate the innovative and flexible large-scale PEM electrolyser.

Project Overview

The electrolyser will be fully sourced with renewable energy and integrated into an ammonia plant. The renewable ammonia produced by the GRAMLI project will be fully compliant with relevant regulations and ready to supply melamine, fertilisers, and technical nitrogen products. The GRAMLI project's potential for relative greenhouse gas (GHG) emission is 156% compared to the reference scenario.

Production Goals

The project will be a reference for the integration of a large-scale electrolyser with an industrial ammonia facility, planning to produce:

1. 7,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year
2. 40,000 tonnes of renewable ammonia per year

Business Model and Grid Integration

It will also establish an innovative business model that efficiently combines revenue streams from:

• The production of ammonia
• The provision of ancillary services to the power grid
• The utilisation of additional by-products such as oxygen and heat

The project will align with the electricity grid's emission intensity, with the facility's operation timed to use more electricity when the share of renewable electricity is high. This approach will prevent grid congestion, contribute to grid stability, and improve the project's financial viability, thereby paving the way for more renewable power in electrical grids.

Environmental Impact

The project will contribute to an absolute avoidance of 931,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent of greenhouse gas emission savings over the first ten years of operation. The Green Ammonia Linz will contribute to the Austrian Hydrogen Strategy and the EU energy and climate goals set in the REPowerEU Plan.

Contribution to Hydrogen Production

In particular, it will contribute to the target of reaching ten million tons of renewable hydrogen production domestically by 2030, by supporting the decarbonization of the hard-to-abate chemical industry and by facilitating the integration of additional renewable energy generation into the power grid.

Economic Benefits

The project not only contributes to a significant CO2 emission reduction but also supports the regional economy in Austria. The project is unique in its size and that it is the first implementation of green hydrogen in an industrial environment in Austria. The green ammonia value chain that will be established through the GRAMLI project also presents potential opportunities for other companies to benefit.