Japanese utility Kyushu Electric Power plans to carry out trial ammonia co-firing at its Matsuura coal-fired power plant, in efforts to to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Kyushu will start small-scale experimental use of ammonia at the 1GW No.2 coal-fired unit at Matsuura in southern Japan's Nagasaki prefecture from 2 November. The test run is expected to last for around one week, and use around 330 kg/hr of ammonia. The company will utilise ammonia that has been used for denitrification.
This is the second ammonia co-firing trial at Kyushu, following a study at the 700MW Reihoku No.1 coal-fired unit over 11-28 April. The company has confirmed there were no environmental impact or damage to a boiler through the study.
Kyushu is aiming to establish technologies that will allow a 20pc co-firing of ammonia, as well as a 1pc hydrogen mixture, at its power plants by the April 2030-March 2031 fiscal year. The company has a target to achieve a 60pc reduction in its scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030-31, based on 2013-14 levels, through its supply chains while it aims to cut its domestic emissions by 65pc. This is a more ambitious target as compared with Tokyo's goal to attain a 46pc reduction.
