FuelPositive’s On-Farm Green Ammonia System Nears Commercial Launch

Canadian technology set to revolutionize fertilizer production for farmers worldwide

FuelPositive, a Canadian cleantech company, is on the verge of commercializing its innovative on-farm ammonia production technology, according to FutureFarming. Thanks to the free trade agreement between the European Union and Canada, this solution will also be available to European farmers, including those in Romania.

Efficient and Sustainable Use of Ammonia

FuelPositive’s modular, scalable container system, developed in Manitoba, produces green anhydrous ammonia (NH₃) using only air and water, powered by electricity sourced either on-farm or from a sustainable local utility. The system is fully self-monitored and remotely supervised.

This technology addresses the high cost of nitrogen fertilizer, which represents the largest input expense for crop production.

“By producing their own NH₃, farmers mitigate fertilizer supply risks,” says Ian Clifford, CEO and co-founder of FuelPositive. “Ammonia can eventually also fuel internal combustion engines on farms or be used in grain drying systems as a substitute for propane.”

The FuelPositive System Includes Four Core Components:

• Nitrogen generator – extracts nitrogen from the air
• Water electrolyzer – produces hydrogen from water (two are currently under evaluation in the Manitoba pilot)
• Ammonia synthesis converter – patent-pending, synthesizes NH₃ from nitrogen and hydrogen
• Ammonia storage unit

Cost and Investment Considerations

The estimated base cost for a system with a capacity of 500 tonnes per year is approximately USD 5 million (EUR 3.39 million).

Return-on-investment (ROI) calculations depend on:

• The cost of electricity (on-farm or grid-supplied)
• The market price of conventional ammonia fertilizer
• Whether the unit is purchased by an individual farmer or a farming collective

Another critical requirement: adequate water access, as the system consumes 2,400 liters/day.

Technical Updates

The demonstration unit, located at the Hieberts family farm in Manitoba, is powered by Manitoba’s carbon-free grid, supplemented with a 200 kW solar array.

To develop the unit, FuelPositive:

• Secured investor capital, including from farmers
• Received USD 1.9 million (EUR 1.29 million) in federal and provincial funding

Gas composition and purity tests (hydrogen, nitrogen, and their synthesis into NH₃) are ongoing. Clifford emphasizes that hydrogen purity is vital, as it most significantly affects the system’s performance and ammonia output rate.

Independent validation has been completed for:

• The patent-pending ammonia synthesis converters
• The nitrogen production system
• The entire production unit

FuelPositive is now finalizing pressure vessel and third-party engineering certifications.

“We continue to raise capital as a public company on the Toronto Venture Exchange and are actively seeking additional provincial funding to support the final commercialization phase,” says Clifford. “We’re thrilled about the market launch, anticipated in early spring 2025.”

System Specifications

• Technology stage: Final testing completed at the Manitoba pilot farm
• Estimated commercialization: Early Spring 2025
• Base unit capacity: 300 kg/day (approx. 100 tonnes/year), suitable for 2,000 acres annually
• Water consumption: 476 liters/day
• Off-grid energy option: 800 kW solar/wind array with energy storage
• System footprint: 5 standard 20-foot containers
• Lifespan: Several decades, with periodic upgrades (Photo: AI Generator)