Japanese deep-tech company Tsubame BHB has begun ammonia production and external supply at its first commercial-scale demonstration plant.

 

Thus, marking a major step towards decentralised ammonia manufacturing using its low-temperature, low-pressure synthesis technology.

 

The milestone comes as the company seeks to establish a new model of local ammonia production that could reduce dependence on imports, ease exposure to international price volatility and strengthen supply security for agriculture and energy markets.

 

The development marks the first practical deployment of Tsubame BHB’s technology in a real-world operating environment, following the start of trial operations announced in January 2026.

 

For nearly a century, ammonia production has relied on the conventional Haber–Bosch process, which requires temperatures of 400–500°C and pressures of 10–30 MPa. The energy-intensive operating conditions have traditionally favoured large, centralised plants, concentrating production in a limited number of locations.

 

Tsubame BHB is seeking to change that model with an electride catalyst developed by Hideo Hosono, Honorary and Institute Professor at the Institute of Science Tokyo, formerly Tokyo Institute of Technology.

 

The technology enables ammonia synthesis at temperatures of 300–400°C and pressures of 3–5 MPa — around 100°C lower and, at the lower end, roughly one-tenth the pressure used in conventional production.

 

According to the company, its plant design incorporates safety-focused engineering and a catalyst replacement system, allowing equipment to be made smaller and supporting production closer to end users, including directly within factory premises.

 

The approach could allow businesses to produce ammonia using locally sourced water, air and electricity, depending on the plant configuration and availability of hydrogen. Depending on the sources of hydrogen and electricity, the technology can support the production of green or blue ammonia.

 

Tsubame BHB is positioning distributed ammonia production as an alternative to supply chains heavily dependent on imports and long-distance transportation.

 

Under its local-production, local-consumption model, ammonia would be manufactured in quantities suited to nearby demand rather than relying entirely on large-scale production facilities and international shipping.

 

The company argues that the approach could limit exposure to supply disruptions and fluctuations in global prices, while supporting more stable supplies for agriculture and energy-related applications.

 

However, the broader commercial impact will depend on the technology’s performance as deployment expands beyond demonstration facilities.

 

Tsubame BHB has received orders for two ammonia synthesis plants in Japan, including the facility at Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park. It is also pursuing discussions and memoranda of understanding aimed at securing orders in Brazil and India.

 

The company plans to accelerate deployment in Japan and overseas, seeking to bring distributed ammonia production into practical use across domestic and international markets.

 

The commencement of supply from the Kashiwazaki facility provides an initial real-world operating milestone as Tsubame BHB works to expand the technology’s footprint.

 

Commenting on the start of production and supply, Koji Nakamura, president and CEO of Tsubame BHB, said: "We are extremely pleased that the first commercial-scale plant we delivered has moved from trial operation to the production and supply of ammonia. 

 

"This is a major milestone for electride catalyst technology, which originated in a university laboratory and is now operating in a real-world setting. We will build on this achievement to accelerate the deployment of distributed ammonia production in Japan and overseas."