Grannus LLC, Tucson, reported that its “next generation” hydrogen and ammonia production technology is proposed for new blue hydrogen and ammonia plants in California and Alaska. Founded in 2012, the company said its patented Grannus Process™ offers significant advantages over current steam methane reformer-based designs, as it creates hydrogen that can be used as a feedstock in the production of ammonia and urea with effectively no emissions.
The company said that in California it is collaborating with a major California oil producer in the development of a hydrogen and ammonia project in the Stockton area. The project is intended to sequester 100% of the CO2 produced in the production of blue hydrogen and ammonia.
The specific location of the 100 st/d hydrogen production facility has not been announced, but will be within a 25-mile radius of the Port of Stockton. It is anticipated that the facility will supply 20 st/d for the mobility hydrogen market, and convert the balance to 440 st/d of ammonia.
Grannus has also revealed that it has entered into a long-term master offtake agreement with CALAMCO for the supply of ammonia-based fertilizer for the entirety of their needs. This agreement allows Grannus to build one or more projects to supply CALAMCO’s demand at mutually agreed locations.
“We have been a long-term investor in Grannus, dating back to 2014, as we sought an avenue to source ammonia locally in California to reduce our exposure to transportation costs and risks associated with international supply,” said Dan Stone, CEO of CALAMCO.
Grannus and CALAMCO have been down this road before, as the two in the past had planned an 87,000 st/y, 250 st/d ammonia plant for Kern County, Calif. (GM May 4, 2018; Jan. 22 & Oct. 14, 2016). However, Grannus CEO Matthew Cox told Green Markets that the project did not advance because it lost its building site.
During the year ended Oct. 31, 2021, CALAMCO took a $2.96 million impairment due to an investment in an ammonia plant that did not proceed, according to CALAMCO’s 2021 Annual Report.
In the meantime, Grannus reported that it is in negotiations with an Alaska-based development company to develop a deep-water marine port at Port MacKenzie, Alaska, and a blue ammonia manufacturing facility. The majority of the product would go for use as a fuel for Pacific-based oceangoing vessels, with additional product available for agriculture and for use as a hydrogen carrier.
“At present, there are only two ammonia-equipped ports on the US West Coast, and we believe that capacity out of Port MacKenzie will be in high demand,” said Cox. “This partnership will bring together renewable energy expertise and knowledge of Alaska’s energy infrastructure with Grannus’ expertise in low-emissions blue ammonia production.”
Grannus said it is also in partnership discussions with a Pacific Rim-based trading company as to the sourcing of blue ammonia to meet the company’s future needs as it converts its fleet of ocean vessels to blue ammonia. Grannus said the first retrofitted vessels capable of burning ammonia will be in operation by 2024, and it is anticipated that 30% of the ships will be ammonia powered by 2050.