The Japanese engineering firm IHI Corporation and the Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan are to study setting up an ammonia fuel supply chain together.

The partners will look at using existing facilities at Idemitsu Kosan’s Tokuyama petrochemical complex, including storage and petrochemical facilities to make the site into an ammonia import base.

Together, they plan to demonstrate ammonia co-firing in its new naphtha cracker furnace and will investigate importing blue and green ammonia for supply to other facilities. IHI aims to study ammonia storage equipment, shipment equipment, and ammonia combustion demonstrations. As well as using the Tokuyama complex for ammonia supply chain demonstrations, Idemitsu Kosan plans to obtain domestic licences for ammonia.

Idemitsu Kosan began operating a high-efficiency naphtha cracking furnace that reduces energy consumption by 30 percent compared to a conventional one in January 2021. In May 2021, they announced plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, following various carbon reduction schemes. IHI, meanwhile, has been studying the development of ammonia technology since 2014, co-firing it with oil and natural gas. It has achieved 70 percent co-firing of liquid ammonia in a 2,000 kW gas turbine.

The partners said in a statement: “Utilising the strengths of both companies, we will contribute to the achievement of a carbon-neutral society by quickly realising a globally advanced ammonia supply chain.”

For more information visit www.idemitsu.com

29th June 2021