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First step towards full decarbonisation of the ammonia plant at Herøya

Yara starts construction of Hydrogen plant, the first step towards full decarbonisation of the ammonia plant at Herøya.
two men standing in office area From the left project manager Reidar Tveit, Yara, and Stein Rune Johansen, construction manager Bilfinger, are looking forward to kicking off the SKREI project together with ministers, industry colleagues and visitors to Herøya on 8th March.

On Tuesday 8th March, the minister, politicians and others will visit Yara's newly renovated show-room and project office at Herøya. Together with Yara and industry partners, they will all participate in starting, "kicking off", the construction of Yara's first new hydrogen production, the SKREI project.

Yara received ENOVA support of NOK 283 million to invest in hydrogen. Green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy, will replace natural gas (ethane) used in the production of ammonia and complete fertilisers. Hydrogen production, which is now being built at Yara's plant at Herøya, is an important step in producing green ammonia and fertilizer without emissions.

In parallel to the preparations for the visit, Reidar Tveit and colleagues in the project organization are in full swing preparing for construction in a former industrial building, Building 162, which is close to Yara's four distinctive blue water-washing CO2 towers at Herøya.

Reuse industrial buildings

Old control rooms are being refurbished and turned into project offices and visitor centers.

The new hydrogen system and catalysts will be installed into an old compressor hall. Project manager Reidar Tveit talks about the reuse of industrial buildings and the planned start-up of hydrogen production here in 2023. (Reidar Tveit speaks Norwegian, choose English subtitles)

 

"We are reusing the compressor hall. The hall has a shape and size that fits well with the new hydrogen plant we are going to build. It is also important that we reuse materials, and get lower CO2 emissions also on the construction side in this project. At the same time, we seize as little exterior area as possible. It makes it possible to build further hydrogen plants related to the HEGRA project and the further green shift for ammonia production at Herøya."

Start production in 2023

The hydrogen system that will enter the compressor hall consists of electrolysers and a lot of electrical equipment. The main supplier of process equipment, Linde, will start assembling the equipment in October. The planned start-up of the factory is August 2023.

two people getting offices ready, painting, tidying
Reidar Tveit invites Emma Vang, a painting apprentice in Bilfinger, to the event next week. She is renovating the old canteen where Yara will receive visitors.
man standing in emply production hall, concrete
Preparing the compressor hall of the old ammonia factory for new hydrogen production, planned to start in 2023.
big red brick building
In a side building (gray building) next door, Herøya Nett is in full swing rebuilding the high-voltage plant for the supply of electricity. Power of 32 MW is secured with Statnett.
man, concrete building, yellow escape stairs
Collaboration with several locals: In the preparations, Yara collaborates with several local suppliers and contractors, including Bilfinger who makes reinforcements to the building and prepares for conversions. Sweco does design and calculations, and AL Høyer does building design on the conversion of the electrical systems.
portrait of man, beard, goggles, white helmet
Project leader for SKREI, Reidar Tveit, Yara.

 

Text/photo: Siri Krohn-Fagervoll   siri@krohnfagervoll.no

02. March 2022

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