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20 April 2023
By
Chris Clayton ,
DTN Ag Policy Editor
Zero-Carbon Ammonia Fertilizer
Startup Fertilizer Company Atlas Agro Seeks to Disrupt
Industry With Carbon-Free Project
RICHLAND, Wash. (DTN) -- A startup fertilizer company touting that its
mission will "disrupt" the fertilizer industry is proposing a $1
billion fertilizer plant in southeastern Washington state that the
company states will make "zero-carbon" ammonia.
The project is one of the first looking at technology to produce
low-carbon nitrogen fertilizers.
Atlas Agro, based in Switzerland, was started in 2021 by former
executives in the fertilizer industry. The company has announced plans
to build its first fertilizer plant in Richland, Washington. The
company cites, "Atlas Agro disrupts an industry that accounts for
(roughly) 2% of the world's (carbon dioxide) emissions."
Atlas Agro announced last week the company had signed a memorandum of
understanding with KBR to license KBR's technology for its project.
KBR stated the engineering firm will provide design, proprietary
equipment and catalyst for the plant.
"We are excited to support Atlas Agro's vision of zero-carbon
fertilizer production through our market-leading green ammonia
technology, K-GreeN," said Doug Kelly, KBR's president of its
Technology Division. "We are also confident that we can drive schedule
synergies across the series of plants to accelerate availability of
clean ammonia globally."
Petter Ostbo, CEO of Atlas Agro, said, "Each of our green ammonia
plants will produce fertilizer that will help feed nearly 16 million
people and avoid global carbon emissions of more than 1 million tons
per year."
Atlas Agro also announced last week that the company had reached an
agreement to buy 150 acres for $9.1 million in the Port of Benton, a
technology economic development hub in Richland.
Along with buying the land and signing the MOU with KBR, Atlas Agro
announced it has signed an agreement for an engineering study by
Tecnicas Reunidas, an engineering contractor. Atlas Agro noted the
study will "inform a potential final investment decision."
![](images/images_04_24_2023/pic7.jpg)
This rendering shows the Atlas Agro proposed
fertilizer plant that could be developed in Richland, Washington. The
Swiss-based startup company has bought the ground and now is
conducting an engineering study for the potential $1 billion project.
(Image courtesy of Atlas Agro)
"Today's announcements reflect major momentum toward Atlas Agro's goal
supplying locally produced, green fertilizers that can support farmers
and help decarbonize the Pacific Northwest's agriculture economy,"
said Atlas Agro North American Executive Director Dan Holmes. "As we
advance the Richland project one step closer to a final investment
decision, we couldn't ask for better partners in developing a domestic
supply of zero-carbon nitrate fertilizer."
Atlas states the company will use electrolyzers to produce hydrogen
and then ammonia using Haber-Bosch synthesis to make calcium ammonium
nitrate. "This is a proven process that has existed for decades.
However, Atlas Agro's proprietary process improvements, coupled with
supportive state and federal policies, have positioned the company to
build and operate the Richland facility on a cost-competitive level
with gas- or coal-based nitrogen fertilizer imports."
Asked about specific state and federal policies, a spokesman for Atlas
Agro cited Washington state's Clean Energy Transformation Act and the
Climate Commitment Act, "both of which are accelerating deep
decarbonization efforts and a clean energy transition." At the federal
level, provisions included in both the Inflation Reduction Act and the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act have also accelerated the
development of the nation's green hydrogen economy, making America one
of the most competitive global markets for Atlas Agro's project
development.
Holmes and Atlas Agro's government affairs representative -- a former
chief of staff for Oregon's governor -- declined requests for
interviews from DTN.
In its news release detailing the land purchase, Atlas Agro included
comments from Washington political leaders championing the project.
"Washington welcomes Atlas Agro and is excited to watch it develop the
world's first commercial-scale green fertilizer plant," Washington
Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, said in a statement. "This is a
meaningful example of what's possible as we build a clean, green
hydrogen sector in our state and seize the economic opportunities of a
zero-carbon future."
Sen. Patty Murray, also a Democrat, said Atlas Agro's project "is
going to be a game changer for farmers across Washington state and the
entire Pacific Northwest." Along with the jobs, Murray added the
project would "help drive down input costs." She added, "Washington
state has been a leader in sustainable agriculture, and as Senate
Appropriations chair, I'm going to keep working to build on this kind
of progress by expanding our investments in climate action and support
for our farmers."
Power will remain a major issue for Atlas Agro going forward. The
company has told Richland officials that the fertilizer plant could
require as much as 350 megawatts of power, which is roughly the
equivalent power that the city uses annually.
A spokesman for Atlas Agro stated, "The Pacific Northwest attracted
Atlas Agro due to its competitive landscape for renewables
development. The Atlas Agro team is pursuing an all-of-the-above
strategy that considers the significant number of existing and
emerging renewable generation sources within the region."
SEARCH FOR LOWER EMISSIONS IN FERTILIZER
Atlas Agro isn't the only company looking at ways to produce
low-carbon ammonia. Earlier this month, Yara Clean Ammonia and
Enbridge Inc. announced a letter of intent to develop and construct a
"low-carbon blue ammonia production facility."
Yara and Enbridge stated their project would capture and store
approximately 95% of the carbon dioxide in the potential plant. The
two companies expected their plant project could cost between $2.6
billion to $2.9 billion with production sometime in 2027 or 2028.
Exxon Mobil also earlier this year announced an engineering study for
a low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia facility for a project in Texas.
Like the Yara project, Exxon Mobile cited that more than 98% of the
carbon dioxide from the facility will be captured and stored as well.
Atlas Agro will not rely on carbon storage meet its "zero-carbon"
emission claims because "the project has no carbon to sequester," a
spokesman stated.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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