ABB to power world’s first floating green ammonia production vessel

ABB has entered into a term sheet agreement with SwitcH2 to provide advanced automation and electrification solutions for a pioneering floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel dedicated to green ammonia production. This offshore facility, to be located off the coast of Portugal, will be powered entirely by certified renewable electricity sourced through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

At the heart of the FPSO will be a 300-megawatt electrolyser, capable of producing up to 243,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually. The process involves generating green hydrogen from treated seawater through electrolysis, which is then combined with nitrogen extracted from the air to synthesise green ammonia. Once produced, the ammonia will be condensed and stored onboard before being transferred to carrier vessels via a floating hose system. It can be delivered to ports for use as a marine fuel or converted back into hydrogen for industrial applications.

Under the agreement, ABB will engineer and supply a prefabricated electrical house (eHouse), comprehensive electrical distribution systems, and the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS), all with full cybersecurity integration. These modular, ready-to-deploy systems will be seamlessly integrated with third-party equipment, including electrolysers and ammonia synthesis units, ensuring safe, efficient, and reliable offshore operations.

Saskia Kunst, CEO of SwitcH2, emphasised the importance of the partnership, stating, “This collaboration represents a key step in advancing offshore production capabilities for next-generation marine fuels. By integrating ABB’s advanced electrification and automation systems, we are demonstrating how technology-driven partnerships can accelerate innovation and shape the future of energy at sea.”

Green ammonia is increasingly recognised as a promising solution for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries such as maritime transport. According to the International Energy Agency, the shipping sector alone contributes approximately two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division, highlighted ABB’s commitment to supporting the energy transition in the maritime industry. “Just like other high-emission industries, the marine sector is under pressure to operate cleaner and leaner. Our technologies in automation and electrification will help make this floating facility both efficient and reliable. This FPSO concept highlights how renewable energy can unlock new low-carbon energy value chains.”

The project’s front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase is scheduled to continue through summer 2026, with a final investment decision (FID) expected in the third quarter of that year. Detailed engineering and construction are set to begin in 2027.