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World’s first large-scale 20% ammonia substitution test at coal-fired power plant successfully completed
10/7/2024
News
Japanese electrical utility Jera, in collaboration with IHI Corporation and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), has successfully completed a demonstration test of fuel/ammonia substitution at Hekinan Thermal Power Station Unit 4 in Aichi, Japan.
This project, part of NEDO’s initiative on carbon recycling and next-generation thermal power generation, marked the world’s first large-scale test of 20% ammonia substitution by heating value in a coal-fired power plant.
In April, the test achieved 20% ammonia substitution while maintaining a rated output of 1 GW. Jera said the results were promising, with nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions comparable to coal-only firing, a 20% reduction in sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions, and negligible nitrous oxide (N2O) generation. Operability remained similar to traditional coal firing, the company said.
The modification reduces greenhouse gas emissions from the plant, as the ammonia molecule, NH3, does not contain carbon (but no test results about emissions were included in a press statement).
Following the tests, Jera is due to start construction at the Hekinan facility this month to enable commercial operation using 20% ammonia substitution, with completion scheduled for March 2025.
This initiative aims to establish ammonia as a mainstream fuel in thermal power generation, providing a cleaner energy mix integrating renewable sources with low-carbon thermal power.
