DNV Approves SwitchH2 and BW Offshore’s NH3 FPSO Concept for Green Ammonia Production

DNV Approves SwitchH2 and BW Offshore’s NH3 FPSO Concept for Green Ammonia Production

(IN BRIEF) SwitchH2 and BW Offshore have secured approval for their proposed design of a floating production unit that will create green ammonia. The project, known as the NH3 FPSO concept, will be built from a Very Large Crude Carrier or newbuild vessel, generating hydrogen through seawater electrolysis and nitrogen via an air separation unit. The ammonia produced will be condensed and stored in the vessel’s hull, ready to be offloaded to a carrier, with power supplied from a wind farm. The project has been granted an Approval in Principle by DNV, with the Basic Design phase set to start.

(PRESS RELEASE) BÆRUM, 11-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The so-called NH3 FPSO concept is being developed by Netherland-based SwitchH2 BV and Norway-based BW Offshore and will be built through conversion of an existing Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) or a dedicated newbuild vessel. Receiving power primarily from a wind farm, the unit will produce hydrogen by electrolysis of seawater and nitrogen through the use of an air separation unit, combining these in an ammonia synthesis unit.

The ammonia gas produced by the unit will be condensed, and the liquid ammonia will be stored in the hull in order to be subsequently offloaded to an ammonia carrier. The NH3 FPSO will be permanently moored but can be relocated as necessary through planned disconnect. The offloading will be done through a floating hose, reeled from the aft ship to the shuttle ammonia carrier midship manifold.

DNV’s Vice President, Business Development for Floating Production, Conn Fagan, says: “The AiP covers all aspects of the integrated vessel concept including structural integrity, mooring, ammonia production, ammonia storage and cargo handling.

“We are pleased to see such developments both with regard to use of renewable energy and as a contribution to emission reduction across many potential applications in different industry sectors.”

“We are delighted we have been awarded the AiP from DNV for our concept and we look forward to working with DNV in the next stages of the project,” says Bob Rietveldt, Member of the Management Board of SwitcH2.

“At BW Offshore, we leverage our offshore experience to support and expedite the energy transition by engineering next generation floating production solutions. Achieving this AiP is an important milestone and an encouraging step towards a cleaner energy mix,” says Fredrik Savio, SVP Project Development at BW Offshore.

Media Contact:

Margrethe Andersen
Head of External Communications, Maritime
Phone: +47 47 68 22 89
Email: margrethe.andersen@dnv.com

SOURCE: DNV