ATOME has appointed AECOM to deliver its Villeta Project, which is set to supply Paraguay’s agricultural and fertiliser markets with green ammonia

LONDON (June 30, 2022) — AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consultancy firm, has been appointed by ATOME to deliver its 60MW Villeta Project, a new world-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Paraguay. AECOM will act as Owner’s Engineer, working with the client to oversee the scheme to completion.

The project will deliver green ammonia for the production of carbon-free fertilisers in Paraguay. Today, almost all ammonia production is derived from fossil fuels, the vast majority of which is widely used around the world in the agricultural industry for fertiliser production. The new facility will connect to an existing substation in Villeta, located on the River Paraguay and 35 kilometres south of Asuncion, and will be supplied with 100 per cent baseload renewable energy. Electrolysers and other key equipment will be installed to produce approximately 9,800 metric tonnes per year (MT/yr) of green hydrogen at full capacity and, using the proven Haber Bosch ammonia generation process, will produce approximately 55,000 MT/yr of green ammonia.

ATOME has already secured a 60MW Power Purchase Agreement, with all its baseload power available today, making it one of the first world-scale green ammonia schemes to advance. 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.

“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 decarbonise fertiliser production,” said Jeff Woodward, director – global market sector lead, Energy, AECOM. “Aligned to our ambitious ESG strategy, this scheme draws on our extensive expertise in supporting the decarbonisation of the industrial sector and accelerating the switch to new energy solutions, partnering with our clients on projects that cut carbon emissions.

“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.”

AECOM’s first focus will be to undertake the process for appointing a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study and potential EPC contractors, as well as equipment procurement. It will then supervise the project to Final Investment Decision, which is targeted for the end of 2022. The plan is for first revenue generation of commercial large-scale production of green hydrogen and ammonia to commence by early 2025.

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.

Olivier Mussat, Chief Executive Officer, ATOME, said: “Following the signing of the 60MW 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 fertiliser sectors.

“We are delighted to have selected AECOM, their personal and collaborative approach, demonstrating 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.”