US-headed global infrastructure consultancy firm AECOM, formerly AECOM Technology Corporation, has announced that it has been appointed by UK-headed ATOME Energy plc (ATOME) to deliver its 60 MW Villeta Project, a new world-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Paraguay.
According to a statement, AECOM has been selected to act as the Owner’s Engineer, working with ATOME to oversee the scheme to completion.
The project will deliver green ammonia for the production of carbon-free fertilizers in Paraguay.
The new facility will connect to an existing substation in Villeta, located on the River Paraguay and 35 km south of the capital Asunción, and will be supplied with 100 percent baseload renewable energy.
Electrolyzers and other key equipment will be installed to produce approximately 9 800 tonnes per year of green hydrogen at full capacity and, using the proven Haber Bosch ammonia generation process, will produce approximately 55 000 tonnes per annum of green ammonia.
Green power PPA secured
ATOME has already secured a 60MW Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with all its baseload power available today, making it one of the first world-scale green ammonia schemes to advance.
With a 60MW Power Purchase Agreement already secured, the Villeta project is a unique scheme that can quickly scale up the delivery of green ammonia supplies to decarbonize fertilizer production, said Jeff Woodward, Director – global market sector lead, Energy, AECOM.
AECOM’s first focus will be to undertake the process of appointing a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and potential EPC contractors, as well as equipment procurement.
As an early project that will help accelerate the wide-scale adoption of green hydrogen and ammonia, there are opportunities to modularise different elements of the system in readiness for future schemes, Jeff Woodward said.
The plan is for the first revenue generation of commercial large-scale production of green hydrogen and ammonia to commence by early 2025.
Aligned to our ambitious ESG strategy, this scheme draws on our extensive expertise in supporting the decarbonization of the industrial sector and accelerating the switch to new energy solutions, partnering with our clients on projects that cut carbon emissions, Jeff Woodward said.
AECOM will then supervise the project to the Final Investment Decision (FID), which is targeted for the end of 2022.
We look forward to working with ATOME and global suppliers to deliver the project using modular principles, which will also aid the deployment of these types of technologies on similar projects as suitable renewable capacity comes forward, said Jeff Woodward.
Additional projects planned
ATOME is the first green hydrogen and ammonia production company listed on the UK stock exchange and has large-scale production planned in Iceland and Paraguay to target the fast-growing global demand for green ammonia.
Following the signing of the 60 MW PPA at Villeta with ANDE where we have readily available 24/7 baseload power, we reached out to a number of global professional service engineering firms across the energy and fertilizer sectors, Olivier Mussat, CEO of ATOME.
We are delighted to have selected AECOM, their personal and collaborative approach, demonstrates that they are results orientated, committed to ATOME’s fast-track goals, and ready to deliver what we need as ATOME’s Owner’s Engineer. The recruitment of AECOM to our team to lead engineering for both our Villeta and Mobility projects also enables us to consider other opportunities as we see the worldwide demand for green hydrogen and ammonia growing, ended Olivier Mussat.
