Thyssenkrupp Uhde and Genesis Fertilizers have signed a pre-feed contract for an integrated fertiliser complex in Canada. The plant will utilise green hydrogen to produce ammonia, urea and nitric acid.
Other capacities of the integrated fertiliser plant include the production of 2,600 tonnes per day of urea, nitric acid, UAN and "the ability to produce Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)".
As part of the pre-FEED agreement, Uhde Engineering will now develop a concept for the integrated production of these chemicals in one plant, with a focus on reducing emissions. According to the agreement, Uhde's proprietary Envinox technology can "almost completely" eliminate nitrogen oxides from nitric acid production.
More sustainability in the fertiliser industry
The company will also consider the use of green hydrogen and renewable electricity in the design. Genesis Fertilisers wants to build the complex near low-cost raw materials. The aim is to supply the fertiliser to a western Canadian network of "super centres" for farmers.
Jason Mann, President and CEO of fertiliser producer Genesis Fertilizers, said that the fertiliser supply for farmers in Western Canada must be based on "the most advanced technologies with the lowest possible environmental footprint". For Lucretia Löscher, COO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, the project is "further proof that the transition of the fertiliser industry to more sustainability has begun".
According to thyssenkrupp subsidiary Uhde, it has built around 2,500 plants to date. Among the 130 ammonia and fertiliser plants built are some of the largest in the world. The company is one of the market leaders in the manufacture of plants for the production of green ammonia. It recently announced its involvement in project talks in Australia, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.