Leading Japanese firms Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Shokubai are to develop a hydrogen supply chain.
Together they will assess the use of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier (hydrogen storage and transport) and the development of medium-scale, decentralised ammonia cracking technology near hydrogen demand sites.
The project will advance ammonia cracking technology using steam and exhaust gases, employing an independently developed, low-temperature, highly active and highly durable ammonia cracking catalyst without the use of noble metals typically used in conventional low-temperature active catalysts.
The two companies will conduct long-term testing, using a commercial-scale demonstration plant.
MHI will leverage its extensive experience in ammonia plant construction and its knowledge of ammonia handling to carry out the basic FEED design of the demonstration plant, and finalise demonstration plant specifications with support from Hokkaido Electric Power Co. (HEPCO).
Nippon Shokubai will promote the development of elemental technologies focused on verifying the durability of ammonia cracking catalysts, drawing on its experience in catalyst development and practical application, including process catalysts such as acrylic acid catalysts and environmental catalysts for automotive and exhaust gas treatment.
HEPCO, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality in Hokkaido by 2050 across the entire energy sector, is expanding the introduction of renewable energy and decarbonising power sources, while promoting initiatives related to ammonia, hydrogen, and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) in the Tomakomai region and other areas of Hokkaido.
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