The Modular Bet Reshaping U.S. Green Ammonia

Developers turn to modular plants to cut risk and speed the U.S. green ammonia rollout

26 Jan 2026

A shift towards modular development is beginning to reshape the US green ammonia market, as developers look for ways to reduce risk and improve the chances of projects reaching completion.

Rather than pursuing large, bespoke facilities, companies are increasingly exploring smaller plants designed to be built and expanded in stages. Industry participants say the approach reflects growing pressure from investors and lenders, for whom execution and cost certainty have become more important than headline scale.

Synergen Green Energy is among the developers adopting this strategy. The company is advancing modular green ammonia plants intended to be replicated across multiple sites, allowing projects to be financed and delivered with greater predictability. Supporters of the model argue that repeatable designs offer clearer construction schedules and more reliable cost estimates, factors that can ease negotiations with capital providers.

Technology choices are central to the approach. Synergen is working with Topsoe on ammonia production systems designed to operate under variable conditions. Topsoe’s ammonia loop technology can adjust to changes in hydrogen supply, a feature seen as increasingly important when hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity.

Wind and solar generation can fluctuate significantly, and equipment that can respond without frequent shutdowns helps maintain efficiency and operational stability. Topsoe has pointed to this flexibility as a growing requirement as industrial processes become more closely linked to renewable power.

Construction methods are also evolving. Synergen is working with The Shaw Group to develop plants assembled from factory-built modules. By shifting much of the construction work off-site, developers aim to reduce labour constraints, limit delays, and improve cost control. These factors can be critical when securing long-term financing and offtake agreements.

Analysts note that the move mirrors earlier trends in renewable power and data centres, where standardised designs helped accelerate deployment and attract investment. Repeatability, they argue, builds confidence across the supply chain.

Obstacles remain. Modular plants can limit customisation, variable power supply adds operational complexity, and uncertainty persists around US clean hydrogen incentives. Even so, interest is growing as green ammonia gains attention for uses ranging from maritime fuel to fertilisers and energy storage.

As the market develops, execution rather than ambition may determine which projects move from plans to production.