Japanese utility Jera has signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with shipping firms Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha and Mitsui OSK to work together to transport ammonia to a co-firing unit of the Hekinan thermal power plant.

The firms will work together to develop large-volume ammonia carriers suitable for domestic thermal power plants and receiving stations. They plan to develop ships that also use ammonia for propulsion and work with related parties to develop safety rules and guidelines for receiver terminals.

Jera wants to create a supply chain that reaches from upstream fuel ammonia to power generation.

“If the development of large-volume ammonia carriers and the construction of a fuel ammonia supply chain are achieved, both would be world firsts,” the firms say in a joint statement.

“If the development of large-volume ammonia carriers and the construction of a fuel ammonia supply chain are achieved, both would be world firsts” Jera

Jera has been conducting an international bidding process for ammonia procurement in preparation to start commercial operation of co-firing 20pc ammonia with coal at Unit 4 of the power station in the latter half of the 2020s.

The company has approached more than 30 companies with a request for interest for the supply of up to 500,000t/yr of ammonia under a long-term deal starting in the 2027 financial year and running into the 2040s. It is still in discussions on received proposals.

Under its ‘Jera Zero CO₂ Emissions 2050’ objective, the utility wants to reduce CO₂ emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses to net zero by 2050.

Jera is a joint venture between Japanese utilities Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power.

The firm has also signed MoUs with Singapore’s Jurong Port and a subsidiary of Japanese firm Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to jointly explore the development of a 100pc ammonia-fired power plant at Singapore’s Jurong port.

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Author: Tom Young