JERA Co. and IHI Corporation today began a demonstration of large-volume fuel ammonia substitution at a commercial coal-fired thermal power plant.
The testing will be carried out at JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in Hekinan City through June 2024.
Since October 2022, JERA and IHI have been moving forward in constructing the burners, tank, vaporizer, piping, and other facilities necessary for demonstration testing fuel ammonia substitution at JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station.
IHI has developed a test burner based on the results of small-volume testing of fuel ammonia at the power station’s Unit 5, and JERA has prepared safety measures and an operational framework for the use of fuel ammonia at the power station.
With such preparations in place, the demonstration testing of large-volume fuel ammonia substitution began today at the power station’s Unit 4. The demonstration testing will look at characteristics of the plant overall, investigating nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and confirming factors such as operability and the impact on boilers and ancillary equipment.
JERA and IHI, by addressing issues raised through the demonstration testing, will seek to establish technology for the use of fuel ammonia in thermal power generation with a view toward mainstreaming in society by March 2025, according to a news release.
Based on the current demonstration testing, JERA will begin commercial operation of large-volume fuel ammonia substitution (20% of heating value) at Unit 4 of JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station. By establishing the technology for ammonia substitution, JERA will offer a clean energy supply platform that combines renewable energy with low-carbon thermal power, contributing to the healthy growth and development of Asia and the world.
In addition to steadily carrying out the current demonstration testing, IHI will apply the knowledges gained through the Project to establish technology for high-ratio combustion of 50% ammonia or more at thermal power plants and to develop burners for 100% ammonia combustion, deploying the results of the demonstration testing to other thermal power plants in Japan and overseas will contribute to global decarbonization through fuel ammonia.
