Northern Plains Nitrogen (NPN), Grand Forks, N.D., which has been planning a major nitrogen plant for Grand Forks, now plans to build a world-scale blue ammonia plant at the site, which will supply a range of low carbon nitrogen-based fertilizer products to farmers in under-served markets in the northern U.S. and Canada.
NPN Chief Operating
Officer Larry Mackie told Green Markets
Jan. 13 that the project is “shovel ready,” as the site has been acquired and
necessary permits have been received to begin site work.
All that is
required is the financing, which Mackie believes will be more forthcoming as
the plant will now produce blue ammonia. He noted that unlike gray ammonia, it
will be more popular for other uses such as transportation and energy
production.
The NPN project
has been around since 2012 (GM May
13, 2013; July 16, 2012). Mackie said the delay has a benefit – that with the
latest technology, there is no doubt that the plant will be the most
competitive nitrogen plant in the country.
In addition to the
carbon capture, which will assure the blue ammonia designation, the state in
November committed $150 million to the North Dakota Industrial Commission for
matching grants to support natural gas pipeline infrastructure, including a
major east-west natural gas pipeline from the Bakken oil fields to the eastern
part of the state, including Grand Forks. This will assure the project easy
access to low-cost gas.
As of 2017, NPN put the cost of the project at $2.5 billion; Mackie updated that figure to $3 billon plus today. He said it would take four years to build once financing is procured. He said technology providers have been lined up, though the company is not ready to announce them at this time.
Ammonia production
continues to be put at 2,400 st/d. Granular urea and UAN are put at 800,000
st/y and 500,000 st/y, respectively. Prices for ammonia, urea, and UAN in the
region are among the highest in the U.S. heartland. Mackie said the plant would
also likely produce industrial ammonium nitrate solution. Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF)
is also under consideration.
NPN is partnering with
Summit Carbon Solutions, Ames, Iowa, in its carbon capture and storage project,
which is focused on decarbonizing agriculture and biofuels industries.
“NPN’s plant is being
designed with the latest and most efficient production processes in the world,”
said Don Pottinger, NPN CEO. “Carbon capture and storage is a significant
opportunity to improve economic and environmental outcomes utilizing safe and
proven technologies. By partnering with Summit Carbon Solutions to capture,
transport, and permanently store carbon dioxide, we will further reduce the
carbon intensity of our products. This is a great story for agriculture, and
for the state of North Dakota.”
Summit Carbon Solutions said
it is developing the largest carbon capture and storage project in the world,
which will have the capacity to capture and permanently store 12 million tons
of carbon dioxide every year. The company last year received a strategic
investment from John Deere, and said it has partnered with 31 biorefineries
across the Midwest to capture and permanently sequester their carbon dioxide
emissions.
“NPN and Summit Carbon
Solutions share the same goal of lowering the carbon footprint of agriculture
while supporting farmers … whether that’s done by delivering sustainable
fertilizer products to enhance yields or by improving access for ethanol plants
across the Midwest to premium low carbon fuel markets.” said Jim Pirolli, Chief
Commercial Officer of Summit Carbon Solutions.
NPN will capture 500,000 st/y
of carbon dioxide emissions, which Summit Carbon Solutions will transport and
store permanently in central North Dakota. Last month, Summit Carbon Solutions
announced significant milestones in development of its carbon storage
facilities in North Dakota, having received state and local permits to collect
3D seismic data and begin drilling stratigraphic test wells, activities which
are now underway.
“Projects like this highlight the opportunities for partnerships with other states and private industry to store carbon dioxide while creating jobs and generating revenue for North Dakotans right here at home,” said North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. “We can capitalize on our state’s geologic jackpot to store not only our own CO2, but also up to 50 years’ worth of our entire nation’s carbon output.
“As the first state in
the nation to achieve primacy over carbon capture permitting, North Dakota is
well-positioned to lead the nation in carbon capture, utilization and storage,”
he continued. “We’re grateful for this investment by Northern Plains Nitrogen
and Summit Carbon Solutions as we seek to grow our agriculture, energy, and
biofuels industries with environmental stewardship and positive economic impact
for generations to come.”
