Topsoe, a global leader in energy transition technologies, has been selected as the ammonia technology licensor for ACWA Power’s Yanbu Green Hydrogen Project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As part of this flagship development, Topsoe’s technology will enable the conversion of green hydrogen into green ammonia at ACWA’s upcoming ammonia plant in Yanbu.
The project partners expect to take the final investment decision (FID) in 2026. Following this milestone, the green ammonia plant is anticipated to begin commercial operations in 2030.
Significant Emissions Reduction Potential
Once fully operational, the plant is expected to avoid approximately 1.7 million tons of CO₂e emissions annually compared to conventional ammonia production based on natural gas. This positions the Yanbu project as a major contributor to global decarbonization efforts, as highlighted in industry updates such as the CF Industries press release on low-carbon ammonia pathways.
Scope of Topsoe’s Technology and Services
Under the agreement, Topsoe will supply its advanced dynamic ammonia technology to convert green hydrogen produced at the Yanbu facility into ammonia. In addition, Topsoe will deliver engineering services, proprietary equipment, and catalysts to Sinopec and Técnicas Reunidas, which have jointly secured the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract for the project.
Through this collaboration, Topsoe and ACWA further strengthen their strategic partnership while accelerating the deployment of green ammonia production at industrial scale.
Leadership Perspectives on the Collaboration
Yassir Ghiyati, Chief Commercial Officer at Topsoe, emphasized the broader impact of the project:
Green ammonia plays a critical role in reducing emissions from energy-intensive industries and long-distance transportation. By expanding our collaboration with ACWA, we are helping deploy scalable decarbonization solutions that can make a meaningful global impact.
Similarly, Driss Berraho, Executive Vice President of Business Development for Green Hydrogen at ACWA, highlighted the project’s strategic importance:
ACWA is developing full-scale, utility-level green hydrogen facilities in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Through our collaboration with Topsoe at Yanbu, we will convert competitive renewable energy into green hydrogen-based fuels, including green ammonia, at industrial scale. This initiative will strengthen hydrogen corridors that connect renewable resources with global demand centers.
Mega-Scale Green Ammonia Development
The Yanbu Green Ammonia Project represents a large-scale, gigawatt-level green hydrogen development. With Topsoe’s technology, ACWA will convert this hydrogen into ammonia across the first mega-scale units at the site. These initial units will have a combined capacity of 2,700 metric tons per day (MTPD), with plans to replicate the scheme in subsequent phases.
The Role of Green Ammonia in the Energy Transition
Green ammonia is expected to play a critical role on the path to net zero. It can be transported using existing infrastructure and serves multiple end uses. Beyond acting as a fuel or hydrogen carrier, green ammonia can also help decarbonize hard-to-abate industries such as steel and cement production.
Understanding Topsoe’s Dynamic Ammonia Technology
Topsoe’s dynamic ammonia technology is designed to adapt production output in response to fluctuations in renewable electricity supply. This flexibility is essential for large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia projects that rely on variable renewable energy sources.
Specifically, the dynamic ammonia process enables:
- Bidirectional ramp-up and ramp-down of ammonia production at a rate of at least 3% per minute, responding to changes in hydrogen availability
- Significant reductions in capital and operating expenditures by minimizing or eliminating the need for hydrogen storage systems
- Storage of renewable electricity in the form of a zero-carbon chemical, supporting system-wide energy flexibility
Together, these capabilities position the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Project as a cornerstone in Saudi Arabia’s green energy ambitions and the global transition to low-carbon fuels.
