Yara is speeding up the hydrogen economy in Germany

Beyond being a vital component of fertilizers for food, clean ammonia is a sustainable source of feedstock to industries and applications. Ammonia is a hydrogen carrier of energy for use in the transport sector and as a carbon-free shipping fuel. It may also be used as an emission-reducing additive to coal-fired power plants. Yara aims to increase its production of clean ammonia globally to be able to supply Germany's emerging market.

Yara made the announcement during Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Habeck's visit to Norway.

"Dr. Habeck and other German leaders have been crystal clear in their ambitions to ramp-up the hydrogen economy. As a response, I'm proud to say that Yara has identified a substantial potential to increase ammonia imports to Germany in line with growing market demand", says CEO of Yara International, Svein Tore Holsether.

"By summer 2023 our export terminal in Brunsbüttel will be modified to import as well. In addition, the terminal in Rostock can increase the imported volumes. In total Yara would be able to deliver 3 million tons of clean ammonia if demand is there. With additional tank capacity we can expand our import capacity much further", says Yves Bauwens, Plant Manager in Brunsbüttel.

Clean ammonia is an effective hydrogen carrier

Following one of the greatest German inventions in the 20th century, Yara has almost 100 years of experience using the Haber-Bosch process to produce ammonia. Today Yara is the world’s largest ammonia distributor with the largest global production- and transport infrastructure. Already a major hydrogen player, Yara produces and consumes approximately 7% of European hydrogen.

Yara's subsidiary Yara Clean Ammonia is currently rolling out a portfolio of decarbonized ammonia production. Green ammonia is produced with renewable energy and electrolyzers. The carbon emissions from blue ammonia production are captured and permanently stored. Together they amount to clean ammonia.

"As we develop our decarbonized projects across the world, we will import clean ammonia to Germany using Yara's fleet of ammonia carriers, the largest in the world", says Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, President of Yara Clean Ammonia.

Yara operates the largest ammonia storage in Germany

New ammonia storage requires significant investments in addition to operational and safety experience. Yara's existing assets and competencies will be critical for a speedy ramp-up.

"Yara operates two deep sea terminals for ammonia in Brunsbüttel and Rostock. In Rostock Yara currently imports 600 kt of ammonia annually. This is Germany’s largest ammonia storage capacity", says Thomas Schmitz, Plant Manager in Rostock.

"Yara Deutschland and Yara Clean Ammonia are excited to be working closely with the German Government on a local and federal level and with German business partners to enable the German hydrogen economy through its ammonia infrastructure and almost 100 years of operational experience", says Magnus Ankarstrand.

The ammonia link between Norway and Germany

Yara was founded in Norway in 1905 to combat the famine threatening Europe at the time. Today, it is a global crop nutrition company, with operations in over 60 countries around the world. Yara Deutschland GmbH is the largest ammonia and fertilizer company in Germany and a leading player in the German industrial nitrogen market. Yara International's subsidiary Yara Clean Ammonia is the worlds' largest ammonia distributor, developing multiple clean ammonia projects world-wide, including in Germany.

About Yara
Yara grows knowledge to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet. Supporting our vision of a world without hunger and a planet respected, we pursue a strategy of sustainable value growth, promoting climate-friendly crop nutrition and zero-emission energy solutions. Yara’s ambition is focused on growing a nature positive food future that creates value for our customers, shareholders, and society at large and delivers a more sustainable food value chain. 

To achieve our ambition, we have taken the lead in developing digital farming tools for precision farming and work closely with partners throughout the food value chain to improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production. Through our focus on clean ammonia production, we aim to enable the hydrogen economy, driving a green transition of shipping, fertilizer production and other energy intensive industries. 

Founded in 1905 to solve the emerging famine in Europe, Yara has established a unique position as the industry’s only global crop nutrition company. We operate an integrated business model with around 17,000 employees and operations in over 60 countries, with a proven track record of strong returns. In 2021, Yara reported revenues of USD 16.6 billion. www.yara.com 

About Yara Clean Ammonia
Yara Clean Ammonia is uniquely positioned to enable the hydrogen economy in a market expected to grow substantially over the next decades. We aim at significantly strengthening our leading global position as the world’s largest ammonia distributor, unlocking the green and blue value chains, and driving the development of clean ammonia globally.

Building on Yara's leading experience within global ammonia production, logistics and trade, Yara Clean Ammonia works towards capturing growth opportunities in low-emission fuel for shipping and power, carbon-free food production and ammonia for industrial applications.

Yara Clean Ammonia operates the largest global ammonia network with 12 ships and has access to 18 ammonia terminals and multiple ammonia production and consumption sites across the world, through Yara. Revenues and EBITDA for the last 12 months were USD 4,111 million and USD 198 million respectively as per Q3 2022. Yara Clean Ammonia is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. www.yaracleanammonia.com

Media contact: 

Hilde Steinfeld
Communications Director 
Yara Clean Ammonia
Mobile: +47 993 53 030 
E-mail: hilde.steinfeld@yara.com