A pilot project in Morris (Minnesota) produces 1 ton of green ammonia daily using exclusively wind energy. The model, driven by the University of Minnesota, promises to reduce costs by up to 50% and nearly eliminate CO₂ emissions.
A pilot project in Morris, Minnesota, is producing 1 ton of green ammonia daily using exclusively wind energy. The initiative, developed at the West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC) of the University of Minnesota, demonstrates that it is possible to eliminate fossil fuels from the fertilizer synthesis process.
The current production represents a significant leap compared to the previous pilot in 2013, which generated 25 tons per year. The new system, which has been operating continuously since early 2026, validates the technical and economic viability of decentralized ammonia production.
The process works with a precise technical sequence: the wind turbine generates renewable electricity that powers electrolyzers, which separate hydrogen from water. That hydrogen is combined with nitrogen captured from the air using the Haber-Bosch process to synthesize ammonia (NH₃).
The key innovation lies in the new models and control systems developed to dynamically adjust the production rate according to the intermittent availability of wind. This addresses one of the biggest technical challenges of producing industrial chemicals with variable renewables.
The project is in collaboration with RTI International and the engineering firm Casale, with funding of $10 million from the REFUEL+IT program of ARPA-E of the U.S. Department of Energy.
Economic advantages over traditional fertilizer
TalusAg, an agricultural technology company leading the commercial expansion of this model in Minnesota, claims that its approach can reduce ammonia costs by up to 50% by eliminating reliance on fragile global supply chains. The main inputs are air, water, and renewable electricity.
The developing commercial proposal plans facilities of 10,000 to 14,000 tons annually, with a projected start in 2027-2028. Another associated initiative mentions two modular plants capable of producing up to 20 tons daily.
Conventional ammonia generates approximately 2.8 tons of CO₂ per ton of NH₃ produced. With renewable electricity, the green ammonia process approaches zero carbon emissions, reducing the fossil energy footprint of agriculture by up to 90%.
Green ammonia ecosystem in Minnesota
The green ammonia ecosystem in Minnesota includes multiple stakeholders: the University of Minnesota leads the research and operation of the pilot in Morris; RTI International provides technical leadership for the next-generation demonstration project; TalusAg handles the marketing and scaling of modular plants; Central Farm Service (CFS), an agricultural cooperative, will participate in distribution; and CleanCounts will certify the carbon intensity of the product.
In Eagle Grove, Iowa, TalusAg is already constructing a commercial plant with an annual capacity of 7,000 tons, validating the business model before scaling in Minnesota.
Impact on farmers and rural economies
The University of Minnesota presents the project as a way to retain fertilizer dollars in the state, strengthening rural economies and supporting local cooperatives or investors. The ammonia produced is intended to supply a key input for high-yield crops, especially corn.
Farmers adopting green ammonia can reduce their exposure to the volatility of international fertilizer market prices and improve the carbon intensity scores of their products, an increasingly relevant factor for accessing premium markets and sustainability programs.
For cleantech and agtech startups, this case study offers actionable lessons: the decentralization of industrial inputs is a real market opportunity. Producing fertilizer locally with renewables eliminates import dependencies, reduces logistical costs, and creates resilience against supply chain disruptions.
The business model, based on modular plants and distributed production, could be replicated in other regions with wind or solar resources. The combination of mature technology, public funding, and commercial demand suggests that green ammonia is moving from being a promise to becoming an industrial reality.
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