JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, said it would spend 69.2 billion yen ($597 million) on
ammonia-related technology research, with the government’s green innovation fund covering about
70% of the cost.
Ammonia, like hydrogen, is utilised as a fertiliser and in industrial materials, but it is also seen as a
future energy source. It does not emit carbon dioxide when burned, but it does emit emissions when
manufactured with fossil fuels.
JERA announced three new demonstration projects on Friday, two of which aim to use at least 50%
ammonia in combination with coal at its power plants by March 2029 and the third of which aims to
create new ammonia synthesis catalysts by March 2031.
JERA and IHI Corp began using tiny amounts of ammonia with coal at JERA’s Hekinan power station in
central Japan last year as part of an effort to cut the facility’s carbon dioxide emissions.
The present project will last around four years, until March 2025, with the goal of obtaining a 20% co-
firing rate at a 1 GW coal power station in Hekinan.
JERA and IHA hope to increase the co-firing rate at a real power plant to at least 50% by March 2029
as part of a new eight-year demonstration project.
JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) and Chubu Electric Power, will work with
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) on a similar project in March 2029, building a new burner and
validating co-firing of at least 50% ammonia at two power plants using various MHI boiler types.
According to a JERA representative, the two projects will cost 45.2 billion yen, with the government
fund subsidising 27.9 billion yen.
JERA, Chiyoda Corp., and TEPCO will also contribute 24 billion yen in a 10-year initiative to develop
ammonia synthesis catalysts, with the state fund contributing 20 billion yen.
Japan’s JERA plans to develop ammonia-related tech with green fund backing
