April 26 (Renewables Now) - Aker Horizons ASA (OSE:AKH), controlled by Norway’s Aker ASA (OSE:AKER), has joined forces with renewables company Statkraft A/S to explore options to produce green hydrogen and ammonia in India and Brazil to help decarbonise the local steel and fertiliser industries.

Norway-based Statkraft on Tuesday announced collaboration agreements for the projects in the two countries. Aker will take part through its subsidiary Aker Clean Hydrogen.

In India, the two Norwegian firms will seek opportunities to produce renewable power and green hydrogen with the aim of supplying emission intensive industries such as steel. According to them, green hydrogen can be used to replace grey, fossil fuel-based hydrogen, coal and natural gas as fuel and feedstock in the domestic steel manufacturing, which puts outs 100 million tonnes of steel annually.

Options to produce ammonia in India and use it both for local supplies and exports will be explored, as well.

Partnering with German renewable energy developer Sowitec, Statkraft and Aker intend to develop power-to-X projects in the Brazilian state of Bahia. They will start with a large-scale hybrid project involving the production of renewable power, hydrogen and ammonia, set to be launched by 2027.

The proposal targets the local fertiliser industry and supports a recent government decision to cut the country’s reliance on imported fertiliser products.

Statkraft and Aker noted that the steel and ammonia industries account for almost 9% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

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