Chiyoda Corporation (Chiyoda), Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) and JERA Co (JERA) have announced that they have commenced research and development of innovative ammonia synthesis catalysts funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization’s Green Innovation Fund, to support establishment of fuel ammonia supply chains.

The initiative is to develop Japanese independent ammonia synthesis technologies, based on the development of innovative catalysts, to enhance the use of ammonia through lower production costs and to reduce CO2 emissions from power generation plants. It is expected that the results will be socially implemented following bench tests and pilot tests assuming commercial utilization.

The research and development is in two (2) stages. The first stage is to develop new ammonia synthesis catalysts through a competitive development strategy between three industry/academia teams (A, B and C below). The second is to develop new ammonia synthesis process/facilities, to compete with Haber–Bosch based technologies by utilizing lower temperature and pressure synthesis catalysts developed in the first stage to reduce production costs.