JERA has concluded a joint study agreement with NYK Line and Resonac aimed at achieving the world’s first-ever supply of fuel ammonia to ships.

Committed to the JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050 objective, the company is taking on the challenge of building a hydrogen and ammonia supply chain as part of reaching net zero CO2 emissions from domestic and international operations by 2050.

This joint study aimed at supplying fuel ammonia to ships is the first example of a decarbonization solution that reaches beyond the power generation sector toward use in other industrial sectors (multi-purpose).

Using ammonia, which emits no CO2 when burned, as ship fuel enables a significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over conventional fuels while at sea. We believe this will make a substantial contribution to achieving zero-emission shipping in the future.

The agreement provides for a joint study by the three companies aimed at achieving the supply of fuel ammonia to a tugboat with a domestically produced ammonia-fueled engine being researched and developed by NYK Line as a Green Innovation Fund*1 project under Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Specific areas for joint study include establishment of safe operational methods for supplying fuel ammonia, development of systems for transporting fuel ammonia to port areas and engagement with related organizations to formulate rules regarding the supply of marine fuel ammonia.

Since ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) when combusted, it is expected to be a next-generation fuel that contributes to the prevention of global warming. Furthermore, by utilizing CO2-free hydrogen as the raw material for ammonia, achieving zero emissions is possible, considering the fuel's life cycle.

Currently, there are no examples of bunkering ammonia as marine fuel for ships equipped with ammonia-fueled engines, and this joint study is expected to promote the use of ammonia as marine fuel in the shipping sector.