Fuel Ammonia
Solutions for Ammonia as a Fuel
Ammonia is used as a hydrogen carrier and as fuel in thermal power generation, industrial furnaces, ships and fuel cells and is expected to be a key ‘next generation’ energy source for mitigating climate change due to the following characteristics:
Characteristic 1：
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen and does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when ignited.
Characteristic 2：
Ammonia has been used for many years as a raw material for fertilizers and chemical products and its transportation and storage utilizes existing technologies and infrastructure.
Characteristic 3：
Ammonia can be cracked to extract hydrogen, making it a viable means of producing and transporting hydrogen
Chiyoda is participating in the development and demonstration of ammonia production and cracking technology and in the assessment and planning of ammonia receiving facilities to advance the use of ammonia as a fuel and establish a robust supply chain.
Development and Demonstration of Ammonia Production and Cracking Technology
Ammonia Production Technology
Ammonia is currently produced through the Haber-Bosch process, involving a chemical reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen. However, the Haber-Bosch process requires high temperatures (400-500°C) and pressures (10-30 MPaG), resulting in significant energy consumption. To expand the use of ammonia as a fuel, alternative methods of ammonia production are required to replace the Haber-Bosch process.
In collaboration with Tokyo Electric Power Holdings and JERA Corporation, Chiyoda is developing a domestic technology with a new catalyst as the core for ammonia production under the ‘Green Innovation Fund’ project of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). By manufacturing ammonia through a low-temperature, low-pressure process, we aim to achieve cost reductions under a development and demonstration project planned from FY2021 to FY2030.
Ammonia Cracking Technology
As a hydrogen carrier capable of storing and transporting hydrogen, ammonia is key to realizing a hydrogen society. Efficiency improvements and cost reductions in ammonia cracking technology to extract hydrogen from ammonia are essential.
In collaboration with JERA Corporation and Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., Chiyoda is developing catalysts and production systems to extract hydrogen from ammonia as part of a NEDO project, aiming to establish new and competitive ammonia cracking technology, and effectively utilize ammonia as a hydrogen carrier. Chiyoda accelerates social implementation of the technology towards achieving carbon neutrality.
- Development and demonstration of a new ammonia production catalyst for the construction of an ammonia fuel supply chain
- Technological development of an autothermal ammonia cracking catalyst for large scale ammonia cracking