SUMMARY

Jera, Kyushu Electric, Chugoku Electric, Shikoku Electric, and Tohoku Electric have each been studying ways to use hydrogen and ammonia in their thermal power plants.

By Shardul Sharma

Japanese utilities Jera, Kyushu Electric Power, Chugoku Electric Power, Shikoku Electric Power and Tohoku Electric Power have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at the adoption of hydrogen and ammonia as fuel for power generation, they said on November 29. 

The MoU, which was signed in April this year by Jera, Kyushu Electric and Chugoku Electric and recently joined by Shikoku Electric and Tohoku Electric, stipulates joint procurement aimed at reducing hydrogen and ammonia procurement costs for domestic power plants.

The companies will also establish transportation and storage methods for hydrogen and ammonia and work to gain policy support.

Because hydrogen and ammonia do not emit CO2 during combustion, the companies said, they are prospective next-generation replacements for fossil fuels. Jera, Kyushu Electric, Chugoku Electric, Shikoku Electric, and Tohoku Electric have each been studying ways to use hydrogen and ammonia in their thermal power plants.