JERA successfully concluded fuel ammonia substitution demonstration testing at Hekinan Thermal power station
JERA Co., Inc. (“JERA”) hereby announces that demonstration testing of fuel ammonia substitution at Hekinan Thermal Power Station Unit 4 has concluded.
Together with IHI Corporation (“IHI”) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (“NEDO”), JERA has been working on the NEDO-subsidized “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” project. Under this project, JERA and IHI have conducted the world’s first demonstration testing of large-volume fuel ammonia substitution (20% of heating value) at a large-scale coal-fired thermal power plant.
This demonstration testing achieved 20% substitution of fuel ammonia while operating at a rated output of 1 GW. Results were positive, confirming that the level of nitrogen oxides (NOx) generated was no higher than before fuel ammonia substitution (than when firing coal alone), a 20% reduction in sulfur oxides (SOx), and that generation of N2O, which has a strong greenhouse effect, was below the threshold for detection. We also confirmed that operability was comparable to before fuel ammonia substitution (when firing coal alone).
Based on the results of this recent demonstration testing, JERA will in July begin construction aimed at commercial operation using large-volume fuel ammonia substitution (20% of heating value) at Hekinan Thermal Power Station.
Going forward, JERA will conduct a thorough evaluation of the impact of the recent demonstration testing on the boiler and peripheral equipment and aims to establish, by March 2025, technologies aimed at mainstreaming the use of ammonia as fuel in thermal power generation.
By establishing fuel ammonia substitution technologies, 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.
