CICERONEGreenNH3stud

CICERONEGreenNH3stud is another milestone in Iberdrola´s green ammonia plan

About the project

The project CICERONEGreenNH3studExternal link, opens in new window.  will receive €3,4 million of funding to launch an articulated study covering the environmental assessment, market study and the engineering design needed for the construction of renewable energy sources, electrolyser and green ammonia plant and infrastructure in Spain. These studies will develop all requested investigations, preliminary assessment, regulatory compliance requirements and design activities needed before the actual works for infrastructure development to produce green ammonia in Spain can be launched.

The study, coordinated by IBERDROLA, is part of a wider project aiming at building an integrated industrial scale cross-border European green hydrogen maritime corridor and ammonia value chain under the broader “CEO-Alliance” initiativeExternal link, opens in new window. . As such, the CICERONE value chain will consist of independent but highly interconnected infrastructure assets located in different EU member states. 

The overall goal project scope is the installation of 400MW of additional renewable PV plant that will feed together with a renewable PPA a 120 MW greenfield green ammonia facility. The majority of the green ammonia produced will be shipped to Northern Europe where it will be handled and cracked back into hydrogen, while a minor share will be consumed in Spain to supply the local industries.

The overarching goal of this project is to contribute to decarbonise relevant industrial areas and to create a competitive green energy market.

The CICERONEGreenNH3stud has been selected by the European Commission to appear as a representative initiative of the EC goals with the CEF Energy funding programs in their new CEF Energy funding brochure “CEF Energy 2023: Latest achievements and way forward”.Enlace externo, se abre en ventana nueva. 

About the CEF CB RES scheme

CB RES projects are identified by the CEF Regulation and aim to promote cross-border cooperation between EU countries in the field of planning, development and cost-effective exploitation of renewable energy sources. CB RES projects may facilitate RES integration through energy storage or hydrogen production facilities with the aim of contributing to the EU’s long-term decarbonisation strategy.

This programme aims to provide financial support to meet EU decarbonisation targets by optimising national efforts for deployment of renewable energy and thus increase the security of energy supply.
CINEA's mission is to support stakeholders in delivering the European Green Deal through high-quality programme management

Iberdrola´s Green Ammonia 

Iberdrola is pioneer in green hydrogen with 2 real plants already operating in Spain: 20 MW for fertilizers in Puertollano and a 2.5 MW for heavy mobility in Barcelona. Our target is to globally reach 3 GW of electrolysers capacity installed by 2030. As a natural progression the Company is now developing green ammonia projects to serve customers in the chemical and fertilizer industry. 

Green ammonia is produced using renewable energy sources as a sustainable, emission-free alternative. Ammonia is currently produced using natural gas, emitting in the process 1,8 tC02 per ton of ammonia. The ammonia market reached 185 Mt in 2022 and is responsible for for ~1% of total GHG emissions. 

To produce green ammonia, green hydrogen must first be obtained through a process of water electrolysis. That is, water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, using electrical energy generated from renewable sources. The hydrogen is then combined with atmospheric nitrogen through a process known as Haber-Bosch synthesis, which allows hydrogen and nitrogen to react at high pressure and temperature in the presence of a catalyst to form ammonia. The end result is the production of green ammonia using green hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen. 

What are the main uses of green ammonia?

This chemical compound is used in the production of agricultural fertilisers as ammonia is an essential source of nitrogen for plant growth. It is also used as a raw material in the production of a variety of chemical products, such as nitric acid, synthetic fibres, dyes and pharmaceuticals. 
In addition to traditional uses, the emergence of green ammonia will give rise to new demand uses with high growth potential. Ammonia is considered an energy vector as it enables efficient hydrogen transport and storage. Another new use for green ammonia is as a fuel for ships and it could play a relevant role in the decarbonisation of the maritime sector. 
All in all, the green ammonia economy will boost the industrial decarbonisation while reducing energy dependence on fossil fuels.

Iberdrola Renewables

The Iberdrola Group started investing in renewable energy more than two decades ago as the foundation on which to build its clean, reliable and smart business model. Thanks to this acumen, the company is today a world leader in renewable energy, with 41,250 MW of operational renewables by the end of the first half of 2023 and with 7,100 MW under construction, and on the cutting edge of the energy transition towards a low-emissions economy. 
 

This commitment is reflected in our 2025 Strategic Plan, which will allocate around €17,000 million to the renewables business. Thanks to these investments, Iberdrola will increase its installed renewable capacity by 12,100 MW to 52,000 MW in 2025. 

The decarbonisation of the planet is among the objectives that countries around the world have set for 2050. The commitment to a decarbonised society is everyone's task. At Iberdrola, we are committed to spearheading the energy transition, a challenge that we undertook 20 years ago and that has made us a world leader in renewables. 

We are committed to the electrification of the economy, the promotion of green energy and technological innovation. In this sense, the project CICERONEGreenNH3stud the project brings together all these commitments and puts us in the right direction to ensure a greener future for next generations.