Global Firms Partner to Accelerate Low-Carbon Boiler Conversions
US-based Babcock Power Inc. has announced a strategic collaboration between its subsidiaries and Japan’s IHI Corporation to advance low-carbon fuel solutions for power generation.
Under the agreement, Babcock Power Services Inc. and Riley Power Inc. will work alongside IHI to retrofit existing power plant boilers for low-carbon fuel conversion and co-firing, with a particular emphasis on ammonia.
The partnership aims to help utilities reduce emissions while extending the operational life of existing infrastructure, offering a potentially cost-effective pathway towards cleaner energy systems.
Wade Shephard said the collaboration combines complementary expertise.
“By bringing together our experience in boiler retrofits with IHI’s advanced ammonia combustion technology, we are well positioned to deliver practical, scalable solutions for low-carbon power generation,” he said.
Ammonia is increasingly being explored as a decarbonised fuel alternative in the power sector, particularly for co-firing with coal, as countries seek to balance emissions reductions with energy security.
Babcock’s subsidiaries bring extensive experience to the initiative, having completed more than 17 gigawatts of fuel conversion projects across a variety of boiler systems. Their technologies are designed to enhance fuel flexibility while reducing carbon intensity and maintaining performance standards.
Meanwhile, IHI contributes advanced ammonia combustion capabilities and recent demonstration success. The company previously conducted a large-scale ammonia co-firing trial at the Hekinan Thermal Power Station, operated by JERA, achieving a 20 per cent calorific substitution rate. It has also demonstrated ammonia combustion at the Labuan Coal-Fired Power Station.
The companies said the collaboration will support power plant operators worldwide in implementing decarbonisation strategies while maintaining reliable and efficient electricity generation, reflecting broader industry efforts to transition towards lower-carbon energy sources.
