Ammonia is used for fertilizers and industrial materials, but is also seen as a future efficient energy source, along with hydrogen. It does not emit carbon dioxide when burned, although its production does create emissions if made with fossil fuels.

JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power, aims to achieve zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 and 20% ammonia use in its coal-fired power plants by 2035.

It has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Norwegian ammonia maker Yara for the delivery of emission-free ammonia as a fuel for power generation in Japan, following an agreement with Petronas in Malaysia to discuss collaborations in ammonia and other energy fields.

“We are also in talks with various companies, including resource sector majors, state-owned companies, shipping companies, national electric utilities and power plant manufacturers,” JERA Chairman Satoshi said. Onoda, during a press conference, without giving the names of the companies.

“We will strive to build a green ammonia supply chain by continuing to promote alliances around the world on the supply and demand side,” he said.

JERA plans to launch a demonstration project to develop ammonia and coal co-combustion technology in a 1 gigawatt (GW) coal-fired commercial power plant.

Aiming to expand its renewable energy assets to 5 gigawatts (GW) by 2025 from 1.2 GW in March, JERA said it and its partners Equinor and Electric Power Development Co (J-Power) submitted a bid this month for three offshore wind power projects in Akita, northern Japan.

In addition, JERA has launched an environmental assessment process for two other offshore projects, one off Ishikari Bay in Hokkaido and the other in Tsugaru in Aomori, northern Japan, he said. he indicates.