JERA Co. has conducted the world’s first truck-to-ship bunkering of fuel ammonia, to an ammonia-fueled tugboat (A-Tug) owned by NYK Line (NYK) that is scheduled to be completed in late August 2024.

The bunkering of fuel ammonia that was carried out took place at Yokohama Port’s Honmoku Pier with the cooperation of the Yokohama City Port and Harbor Bureau and under the fuel supply agreement that JERA concluded with NYK on 27 May 2024. The bunkered fuel ammonia was produced by Resonac Corporation (Resonac) at its Kawasaki Plant in part using waste plastic as a raw material, and the same fuel ammonia will also be used going forward for the A-Tug’s sea trial. After the A-Tug is completed, JERA will supply fuel ammonia to its operator, Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation.

Because ammonia is toxic and adequate safety measures are required when handling it, we held repeated discussions with stakeholders such as NYK and Resonac in the lead-up to bunkering. Specifically, we established safe handling methods for fuel ammonia, developed a system for safely transporting it to and receiving it at the port area, and formulated safety measures to be implemented in the event of a leak.

Under JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050, as we seek to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions from domestic and overseas business operations by 2050 we are moving forward with the establishment of hydrogen and ammonia supply chains. The bunkering of fuel ammonia to ships is our first example of a decarbonization solution that extends beyond the power generation sector to use in other industrial sectors (multi-purpose). As a pioneer in fuel ammonia, JERA will continue to contribute to its adoption beyond the power generation industry.

In addition, the use of ammonia, which emits no CO2 when burned, as marine fuel enables a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions while at sea compared to conventional fuels. We believe this will make a significant contribution to achieving zero-emissions shipping in the future.