Worley to lead the design of flagship ammonia facility on US Gulf Coast

The plant, which will become operational by 2027, is set to be the first to utilise solid oxide electrolyser technology (SOEC) for hydrogen production.

Australian energy services firm Worley has announced it has been selected by First Ammonia to deliver the front-end engineering design (FEED) for an electric ammonia facility in Victoria, Texas.

This facility has an initial anticipated production capacity of 300 metric tonnes of electric ammonia per day, and will also be the first to utilise solid oxide electrolyser technology (SOEC) for hydrogen production.

First Ammonia will use Danish SOEC-maker Topsoe’s technology following their 2022 5GW capacity reservation agreement.

Marc Van Den Boom, Senior Vice President of Gulf Coast Operations, commented: “The plant is a pivotal step in delivering decarbonised energy solutions, and we look forward to supporting the project’s success.”

The FEED study has a target completion date of Q1 2025, with construction set to begin later this year. The Victoria facility is expected to become operational in 2027.

Joel Moser, CEO of First Ammonia, added: “We are excited to be partnering with Worley, whose strong relationship with Topsoe, our technology licensor, and proven Gulf Coast expertise will help us decarbonise heavy industry, transport fuels, and power generation.”

The plant’s design accommodates fluctuating renewable energy, which Worley says will play a key role in stabilising the local grid and paving the way for scalable and cost-effective ammonia production.

Worley has established itself as a key player in the industry through its involvement in large scale projects. In 2024, Worley partnered with energy giant Shell, supporting the delivery of Europe’s largest renewable hydrogen project in the Netherlands.