Japan’s LNG trader and power generation firm, Jera, has signed a deal with Aboitiz Power to look into ammonia co-firing options at the latter’s coal-powered plants in the Philippines as part of a move to slash emissions.
Back in 2021, Jera bought a stake in Aboitiz Power, a unit of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, saying the two firms will work on LNG-to-power projects in the Philippines and collaborate on new generation technologies.
According to a statement by Jera issued on February 10, the two firms signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a joint study on ammonia co-firing in Aboitiz Power’s coal-fired power plants.
“Both companies will consider the possibility of ammonia co-firing at Aboitiz Power’s coal-fired power plants which will be a trigger for decarbonization of Aboitiz Power, and will scrutinize target power plants for ammonia co-firing and the co-firing rate,” Jera said.
Jera is already working with compatriot IHI to supply larger volumes of ammonia to its coal-fueled Hekinan thermal power station in Japan.
The project aims to achieve an ammonia co-firing rate of 20 percent at the 1 GW Hekinan power station Unit 4 in fiscal 2023, ending March 2024.
As part of its plans to slash emissions, Jera also recently launched the first of three new LNG-fueled units at its Anegasaki thermal power station in Chiba.
The LNG-fired power station uses a gas turbine combined-cycle power generation system (GTCC) and has generating capacity of some 650MW.