The world’s first demonstration of large-scale ammonia cofiring in a commercial coal-fired power plant is planned for 2024. JERA Company and IHI Corporation will test an ammonia co-firing rate of 20% at Unit 4 of JERA's 1 GW capacity Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Hekinan City, Japan.

In addition to serving as an energy carrier for hydrogen, ammonia can also be exploited directly as a primary fuel in thermal power generation. Its use is expected to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions as no carbon dioxide is released during its combustion.

Boiler heat absorption and environmental impact characteristics, including exhaust gas composition and volume, will be analyzed during the demonstration. Researchers will also verify the necessary parameters for developing demonstration burners by conducting small-scale ammonia cofiring tests using burners of different materials at Unit 5 of the Hekinan Thermal Power Station in the second half of 2021.

Boiler and modified burner design. Source: JERA Company

The project will be conducted under the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s “Development of Technologies for Carbon Recycling and Next-Generation Thermal Power Generation/Research, Development and Demonstration of Technologies for Ammonia Co-Firing Thermal Power Generation" program.

JERA plans to start using 100% ammonia as a fuel in the 2040s as part of its 2050 carbon neutrality target.