Schiedam, 6 March 2023 – Proton Ventures BV (“Proton”) is awarded a Scoping & Feasibility study and a subsequent Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) project by the Dutch Vesta Terminals B.V. (“Vesta”) for re-purposing of two 30.000m³ ammonia tanks in Vlissingen, NL.
Earlier last fall, Uniper Global Commodities SE and Vesta signed a Memorandum of Understanding to evaluate the feasibility of refurbishing and expanding an existing storage facility with the aim to create the first green ammonia hub ‘Greenpoint Valley’ in North-West Europe.
Future hub
Vesta Terminals in Vlissingen, currently has 60,000m³ of refrigerated storage capacity built for ammonia and as a future hub will be able to handle initial throughput capacity of one million metric ton per annum (mtpa) NH3. The terminal is well located for the supply of green ammonia by seagoing vessels, re-loading into barges and rail tank cars. In a second phase the throughput capacity of the facility can be expanded to two mtpa and the terminal will be connected to the Dutch hydrogen pipeline network via a world-scale cracker. The commissioning and start of operations is envisaged for 2nd half of 2025.
A follow up of the pre-feasibility study
This Scoping/Feasibility study + FEED project is a follow up of the pre-feasibility study Proton executed for Vesta in early 2022 on the reconversion of two existing ammonia (NH3) tanks (now used for biodiesel), (un-)loading infrastructure including the concept design of an NH3-to-H2 cracker.
During the FEED Proton will focus on:
- Reconversion of the two existing tanks back for Ammonia storage in Vlissingen
- (Un-)loading Very Large Gas Carriers and Barges incl. Jetty expansion
- Loading to railcars via a new Railcar loading area (RLA)
- Spatial provision for a third storage tank in the future and a Cracker
Transition towards green ammonia
As the global energy industry starts to unveil the potential of ammonia as an energy carrier, Proton Ventures is proud to be leading the designs that enable the energy transition from hydrocarbon to hydrogen fuels via the NH3 molecule.
“The team at Proton Ventures is delighted to present a custom and future-proof solution for the transformation of an existing Dutch terminal of strategic importance. We have the right team in place to contribute to the energy transition via green ammonia and timely deliver a safe and state-of-the-art design.” – George Dodoros, Business Development Director at Proton Ventures.
About Vesta Terminals BV
Vesta Terminals B.V. is an independently operated company offering its customers safe and reliable logistics services in the form of storage and transshipment of liquid bulk products, an active participant of green energy transition logistics service provider Vesta operate in Europe with terminals in Belgium, Netherlands and Estonia. Vesta is a 50:50 joint venture between Mercuria Energy Asset Management B.V. and Sinomart KTS Development Limited. Mercuria Energy Asset Management B.V. is affiliated to Mercuria Energy Group Ltd, one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodity groups. Sinomart KTS Development Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sinopec Kantons Holdings Limited which is a storage and logistics company listed at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
About Proton Ventures BV
Proton Ventures is an independent ammonia engineering company operating in the chemical industry and one of the pioneers in the energy transition. Since 2001, Proton Ventures provides innovative engineering and turnkey solutions for world-scale storage terminals, ammonia production units and other ammonia-related process applications. We strive to be a key player in the ammonia value chain and chemical energy storage, making renewable energy accessible to everyone. We offer services in the field of Project management, engineering, procurement & implementation including cost calculations ranging from feasibility assessments up to turnkey projects. As a technological innovator, we enable our global partners to benefit from our safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible solutions.
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