TOKYO : JERA, Japan’s biggest power generator, said on Wednesday it has concluded a three-month trial of co-firing 20 per cent of ammonia with coal at its Hekinan thermal power station in central Japan with positive results.
The utility, along with heavy machinery maker IHI, started the test at a 1-gigawatt (GW) unit on April 1, in what it said was the world’s first trial using a large amount of the gas at a major commercial plant.
JERA said results were positive, confirming that nitrogen oxides levels were no higher than when firing coal alone, sulphur oxides were reduced by 20 per cent, and generation of nitrous oxide, which has a strong greenhouse effect, was below the detection threshold.
Based on the results, JERA will begin construction in July to enable commercial operation using large-volume fuel ammonia substitution at Hekinan power station.
JERA will thoroughly evaluate the recent test’s impact on the boiler and peripheral equipment, aiming to establish technologies for wider use of ammonia as fuel in thermal power generation by March 2025.
Ammonia, a toxic gas primarily produced from hydrogen derived from natural gas and nitrogen extracted from the air, does not emit carbon dioxide when burned.
Ammonia is primarily utilized as a raw material for fertilizers and chemicals due to its nitrogen content. However, it is gaining attention as a potential low-carbon fuel for power generation and marine bunker operations. This is because when burned, it produces only nitrogen and water as byproducts, making it a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels like coal or oil. Research and trials are ongoing to explore its feasibility and efficiency in various applications, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industries reliant on high-energy-density fuels.
