Wind-powered ammonia production began on July 20, 2026 at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, Minnesota. The facility aims to produce one ton of low-carbon ammonia per day for local fertilizer use.

Ammonia is produced by combining hydrogen from water electrolysis with nitrogen from the air in a Haber Bosch process. The hydrogen is generated using electricity from wind turbines, and the plant can adjust its output to match wind availability.

The project is a collaboration among the University of Minnesota, RTI International, and Casale. It builds on a 2013 pilot plant and is intended to lower fertilizer prices, improve supply chain stability, and generate revenue for the state. Ammonia can be stored in nurse tanks or combined with carbon dioxide from ethanol production to create urea.

Unlike conventional plants that operate at a constant rate, this facility can vary production to accommodate fluctuating wind supply. Adjusting output reduces the need for large hydrogen storage, which lowers capital costs and makes the system more economical.

Michael Reese, Green Ammonia Research Lead at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, said the concept treats wind as the feedstock and allows flexible operation. Prodromos Daoutidis, Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, said that dynamic operation minimizes hydrogen storage requirements and supports state economic development.

The partners suggest that farmer cooperatives could develop similar plants with state support, loans, and credits. A December 2025 AEA Project Features episode described the facility in detail, and recordings are available online.