- The ammonia gas produced by the unit will be condensed and the liquid ammonia will be stored in the hull to be subsequently offloaded to an ammonia carrier.
- AIP from DNV affirms the technical feasibility of the design and the project is now ready to start the basic design phase.
- BW Offshore also today announced the sale of its laid-up BW Opportunity floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) for US$125M.
An industrial scale concept for a floating production unit that produces green ammonia using electricity from offshore wind has secured approval in principle (AiP) from DNV. AIP from DNV affirms the technical feasibility of the design and the project is now ready to start the basic design phase.
Floating ammonia production unit
The so-called NH3 FPSO concept is being developed by Netherlands-based SwitchH2 BV and Norway-based BW Offshore and will be built by converting an existing very large crude carrier (VLCC) or a dedicated newbuild vessel.
Receiving power primarily from an offshore 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 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.
AiP by DNV
DNV vice president business development floating production Conn Fagan said, “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 the use of renewable energy and as a contribution to emissions reduction across many potential applications in different industry sectors.”
SwitcH2 board member Bob Rietveldt said, “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.”
Energy transition
BW Offshore senior vice president project development Fredrik Savio said the company “wants to leverage offshore experience to support the energy transition, engineering next-generation floating production solutions.”
BW Offshore also today announced the sale of its laid-up BW Opportunity floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) for US$125M.
The sale is expected to be finalised by the end of the first quarter of 2023. The company said it is exploring the feasibility of provision of an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning contract (EPCC) and operations and maintenance (O&M) contract for services over a five-year transitional period with the unnamed vessel’s buyer.
The vessel was the setting of a deadly explosion in 2015 that saw nine workers killed and 26 injured and the vessel severely damaged. Repairs have since been completed, according to BW.
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Source: Riviera
