Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised First Ammonia in relation to an anchor customer arrangement with Haldor Topsoe for the reservation of first-of-a-kind, industrial-scale, solid oxide electrolyser cells (SOEC) to provide green hydrogen and ammonia, fuels for transportation, power storage and generation and fertiliser. First Ammonia’s purchase of 500MW of hydrogen electrolysers is expandable to 5GW capacity, covering the whole of the planned capacity of Topsoe’s new purpose built manufacturing plant in Herning, Denmark over the life of the agreement.
This represents the largest agreement in the world to date for any type of electrolyser and will displace almost 5 BCM of natural gas and eliminate 13 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. The first 500 MW of capacity will be installed in the world’s first commercial-scale green ammonia plants at sites in Northern Germany and Southwestern United States and which are expected to be fully operational in 2025.
First Ammonia is a related entity of the $5.5 billion investment manager Christofferson, Robb & Company. Haldon Topsoe is a global leader in developing solutions for a decarbonised world, supplying technology, catalysts, and services for worldwide energy transition headquartered in Denmark.
The Herbert Smith Freehills team advising First Ammonia was led by London energy partner Alexander Currie with Dubai partner Danila Logofet, assisted by senior associates Michael Poole and Charles Oliver, associate Yulia Turkina and trainee solicitor Portia Cox.
Alexander Currie commented:
“We are delighted to have supported First Ammonia on this landmark agreement with Topsoe, which will equip the production of green hydrogen and ammonia on a huge industrial scale. Green hydrogen and ammonia are essential products for the global transition to renewable energy and a greener economy.
Herbert Smith Freehills is proud to be a leader in the green hydrogen and ammonia industries.”
