© Envision Energy

Envision Energy has officially commissioned what it claims is the world’s largest off-grid green hydrogen and ammonia facility in Chifeng, China. The plant, powered solely by newly installed wind turbines and batteries, is already producing 320,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year using 500MW of electrolysis capacity.

This milestone places China at the forefront of global green hydrogen scale-up efforts. While many international projects remain in planning or early development phases, Envision’s operational plant signals real-world progress in large-scale, export-oriented hydrogen production.

Strategic Agreements and Export Plans

Japan’s Marubeni Corporation has signed a long-term off-take agreement for part of the output, targeting use in fertilizers, chemicals, and shipping. Envision plans to start exports in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The project has achieved both Bureau Veritas Renewable Ammonia Certification and a voluntary ISCC Plus certification, as well as securing an RFNBO (renewable fuels of non-biological origin) compliance report. These steps confirm that the ammonia produced meets strict EU standards designed to minimize indirect emissions and prevent grid-related carbon intensity.

Envision’s Vision for Global Clean Energy Hubs

Envision CEO Lei Zhang called the plant a “blueprint” for clean energy hubs and stressed its role in accelerating the shift to net-zero.
“Scalable, green alternatives are now real and operational. We can’t get to Net Zero without green hydrogen, and we can’t afford to wait,” he said.

Unlike most green hydrogen projects globally, the Chifeng plant operates entirely off-grid. It converts surplus renewable electricity to liquid nitrogen in an air separation unit, enabling real-time response to power fluctuations. Electrolyzers — both alkaline and PEM — are manufactured and supplied by Envision itself.

Expanding Capacity and Future Goals

The facility’s use of artificial intelligence for continuous optimization further enhances efficiency, making it a viable model for future projects worldwide. Envision describes the design as “replicable” and ready for rapid deployment in other regions.

The company aims to expand capacity to 2.5GW of electrolyzers by 2028, scaling annual green ammonia output to 1.5 million tonnes. According to Envision, it targets price parity with fossil-based (grey) ammonia within the same timeframe.

Shifting the Competitive Landscape in Green Hydrogen

With the EU requiring 42% of industrial hydrogen and 1% of transport fuels to be RFNBOs by 2030, demand for certified green hydrogen and ammonia is expected to rise sharply — particularly for producers able to meet EU compliance early.

China’s accelerating deployment and willingness to build off-grid, export-ready infrastructure could shift the global competitive landscape in green hydrogen and ammonia.