Tucson-based Grannus LLC said it has chosen Plant Process Equipment (PPE) to be its management company for engineering, procurement and construction on an ammonia-plant project in Kern County, California.

PPE is creating the plant in modules that will be built offsite and delivered for final assembly at the plant site. Modular design cuts down on costs and construction time.

The Grannus plant is expected to meet all applicable California air-quality standards and produce 250 tons of ammonia per day, meeting 40 percent of the needs of agricultural ammonia users in the state.

Grannus' revolutionary plant design produces nitrogen fertilizer and generates power with virtually no pollutants and near zero emissions.

"Plant Process Equipment's deep experience in the modular design of syngas plants is a perfect fit for our regional-sized California plant," Grannus CEO Matthew Cox said. "It's our intent to replicate the California plant design throughout the world to further reduce capital costs and to streamline lead times for delivery."

Ken Reynaud, PPE's senior vice president, said the Grannus project is right in PPE's wheelhouse, serving Grannus' desire for a modular design that can be fabricated offsite and delivered anywhere in the world on a very cost-effective basis. The benefit will be ammonia plants that can deliver product on a regional basis at costs competitive with those of world-scale facilities.

The Grannus plant is expected to open in 2019 and will be the first new ammonia plant in the state in more than 60 years.