China’s Envision Energy has launched the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia plant in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. The plant sits in the Net-Zero Industrial Park. It runs completely on off-grid renewable sources like wind, solar, and battery storage. Artificial intelligence manages its operations.
The facility will start with a capacity of 320,000 tonnes of green ammonia each year. It plans to begin exports in the fourth quarter of 2025. This milestone is key for large-scale decarbonization. It puts China in a leading role in the global hydrogen economy.
Off-Grid & On Point: The World’s Smartest Hydrogen Plant
Envision’s Chifeng plant stands out as it operates fully off-grid, unlike many hydrogen facilities that still rely on fossil fuel-powered grids. This means it uses only renewable sources for electrolysis and ammonia synthesis. Thus, there are no carbon emissions from energy input. AI is key in managing these operations. It helps keep energy supply and demand balanced in real time.
A particularly innovative feature is the use of surplus renewable energy to produce and store liquid nitrogen. This helps stabilize the system when the wind or sun is low, providing a steady, reliable energy supply.
With this system, AI, clean power, and storage tech help solve a big problem in green hydrogen production: the unpredictability of renewable energy.
From Mongolia to the World: Scaling Up Clean Ammonia
Envision’s ammonia output is already the largest in the world at 320,000 tonnes per year. But they plan to grow this capacity to 1.5 million tonnes each year by 2028. This nearly fivefold expansion signals the company’s long-term commitment to clean fuels and global exports.
In line with these goals, Envision has secured a major offtake agreement with Marubeni Corporation of Japan. The deal will supply green ammonia to sectors like fertilizers, chemicals, and shipping. These markets are looking for low-carbon options.
Ammonia is key as a hydrogen carrier. It makes storage and transport easier than pure hydrogen gas. This makes it especially attractive for industries such as global shipping and heavy manufacturing, which require scalable clean fuels.
By enabling ammonia production using green hydrogen from renewable energy, Envision’s plant supports both climate targets and energy security. China is pushing hard on clean energy. This project highlights the country’s growing role in global decarbonization.
The country ramped up its clean power output to a record-breaking 951 TWh in the first quarter of 2025, up 19% from Q1 2024. Renewables account for nearly 39% of its total electricity mix. Wind (307 TWh) and solar (254 TWh) led the surge, with solar generation growing by 48%, marking the first time these sources combined surpassed hydropower in China’s power mix.
The Global Hydrogen Market: Strong Growth Ahead
The launch of Envision’s hydrogen facility aligns with accelerating global trends in green hydrogen. Market analysts project explosive growth over the next decade:
- The green hydrogen market, valued at around $8 billion in 2024, is forecasted to reach around $300 billion by 2035.
- Hydrogen could supply up to 24% of global energy demand by 2050.
Such projections are driven by falling costs and stronger policy support. Electrolyzer technologies are becoming more efficient and affordable, and renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in many regions. As such, green hydrogen is becoming more competitive with fossil-based hydrogen. This is especially true in tough-to-decarbonize sectors.
Large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia and Australia echo this momentum:
- NEOM Green Hydrogen Project (Saudi Arabia): Expected to produce 600 tonnes of hydrogen per day and 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia annually.
- Australian Renewable Energy Hub: Aims to harness 26 GW of solar and wind for hydrogen and ammonia production.
Meanwhile, both the European Union and the United States are rolling out major policies, including hydrogen subsidies and certification standards, to speed up adoption.
A Blueprint for Industrial Decarbonization
Envision’s achievement is more than a regional success story. It provides a clear plan for countries and industries. They can quickly boost clean hydrogen production by using renewable energy, AI, and smart design.
Also, this project highlights how green ammonia can act as both a climate mitigation tool and a clean energy carrier. It will play an increasingly important role in decarbonizing global trade, shipping, and chemical production.
More notably, this initiative shows Envision Energy’s commitment to its pioneering net-zero efforts.
Envision Energy’s Net-Zero Progress and Emissions Strategy
Envision Energy aims for net-zero emissions by 2050. They also have goals for 2030. The company’s 2024 Net Zero Action Report states that the company became carbon neutral in 2022. It also plans to cut Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030, using 2020 as the baseline.
Envision is tackling Scope 3 emissions, which are the largest part of its carbon footprint. They are focusing on engaging suppliers and improving product design throughout their lifecycle. The company uses digital tools to cut emissions. Its AIoT operating system, EnOS™, helps optimize wind farms, batteries, and hydrogen systems.
In 2023, Envision cut over 2 million metric tons of CO₂e through its clean energy technologies. These efforts follow SBTi guidance and the UN Race to Zero campaign. They also strengthen Envision’s role in climate-friendly innovation and decarbonization.
Envision is also key in speeding up global decarbonization. Its Net Zero Industrial Park in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, hosts the world’s largest green hydrogen and ammonia project. This industrial park integrates wind and solar energy, AI, and hydrogen technologies into a closed-loop, zero-emissions system.
It is a model for green manufacturing that aims to cut millions of tons of emissions each year. Also, it supports low-carbon supply chains in industries like steel, cement, and chemicals.
Looking Forward: China’s Role in a Hydrogen Future
Envision Energy’s hydrogen development also reflects China’s broader ambition to lead in the global energy transition. China, already a leader in solar panels, electric vehicles, and battery storage, is now investing heavily in green hydrogen. This move aims to strengthen its position in clean energy.
For global stakeholders, the Chifeng plant can be a wake-up call. As hydrogen markets take shape, those who lead in innovation and infrastructure may define the new clean economy.
Envision’s Chifeng facility marks a turning point in the global hydrogen race. With its blend of renewable power, smart systems, and scalable design, it sets a new benchmark for what’s possible in clean fuel production.
