World First! Samsung Heavy Industries launches floating blue ammonia offshore factory design

On September 19th, Samsung Heavy Industries announced that its concept design for the world's first Floating Blue Ammonia offshore plant, developed at Gastech 2024, the world's largest oil and gas exhibition held in Houston, USA, has received a certificate of principle approval (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Blue ammonia refers to the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to reduce carbon emissions generated during the production process by more than 90%. In the production process of blue ammonia, the carbon dioxide generated during the production process is captured and stored through CCS technology, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the environment. This technology combines carbon capture and storage, making ammonia production more environmentally friendly and in line with the current pursuit of reducing carbon emissions and achieving carbon neutrality goals. The ammonia produced in this way is called low-carbon ammonia, also known as blue ammonia.

The floating blue ammonia offshore plant is installed on the floating body of the sea with a modular structure, and has been evaluated as a new generation of environmental protection facilities with epoch-making advantages in reducing carbon emissions, overcoming constraints such as insufficient land and infrastructure, shortening construction time, and ensuring economic viability.

Previously, Samsung Heavy Industries signed an agreement with KBR, a global leader in ammonia technology and an American engineering company, to award a conceptual research contract for a floating blue ammonia offshore plant to KBR. This study will combine KBR's advanced blue ammonia production technology optimized for offshore environments with Samsung Heavy Industries' rich experience in designing large-scale floating production equipment. By combining Samsung Heavy Industries' expertise in large-scale floating structures with KBR's ammonia process innovation, this study aims to create a floating blue ammonia offshore plant, which will be the first of its kind in the facility. This project is expected to play a crucial role in achieving global decarbonization goals and providing flexible solutions for sustainable energy production at sea.

This cooperation marks an important step forward for Samsung Heavy Industries in its diversified strategy in the field of ocean energy. With the increasing demand for low-carbon energy, blue ammonia has attracted attention for its potential to reduce carbon emissions in industrial applications, including shipping and power generation. KBR's validated blue ammonia technology involves producing ammonia from natural gas while capturing and storing associated carbon dioxide, making it a key component of the global energy transition.

It is reported that Samsung Heavy Industries will focus on showcasing various environmental protection technologies and products such as floating blue ammonia offshore factories, floating carbon dioxide storage equipment, ammonia powered container ships, etc. at Gastech 2024. Samsung Heavy Industries Vice President Cui Cheng'an also personally came to the site for marketing. At the same time, Samsung Heavy Industries also invited major ship owners, classification societies, and oil giants to hold a technical seminar on September 17th with the theme of "Realizing an Environmental Future and Contributing to Human Society".

The future of the shipbuilding and marine equipment industry depends on the effective production of environmentally friendly energy and the energy value chain of economic transportation, "said Zhang Haiji, Vice President and Minister of Technology Development at Samsung Heavy Industries." Samsung Heavy Industries will lead advanced technological capabilities and products