Topsoe picks Nebraska for first blue ammonia fertilizer plant using SynCOR technology

Topsoe has signed an agreement with Nebraska-based J Westling to deploy its SynCOR Ammonia autothermal reforming technology at a planned blue ammonia fertilizer plant in Gothenburg, Nebraska — the first time the technology has been used specifically for low-carbon fertilizer production.

The blue ammonia Nebraska facility is designed to produce approximately 500 short tons per day using natural gas as feedstock, with operations expected to begin by 2029. The plant will serve Midwest farmers, eliminating $100–120 per ton in transportation costs currently incurred to ship ammonia from the Gulf Coast. J Westling founder Joshua Westling said the project will deliver reliable, high-quality fertilizer closer to the farmers who depend on it while creating jobs in rural Nebraska.

The announcement reflects growing investor interest in localized, low-carbon fertilizer production as a hedge against the supply chain disruptions exposed by the Strait of Hormuz crisis. According to BloombergNEF, clean ammonia — including both blue and green varieties — could account for roughly 13% of global ammonia supply by 2030. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act production tax credits further improve the economics for blue ammonia projects that capture and sequester CO₂ from the production process.

Source: Topsoe