Source: Mitsubishi Power

Mitsubishi Power and Indonesia’s Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) have signed an agreement to partner on research of firing ammonia in gas turbines.

Following demonstration testing with Mitsubishi Power’s H-25 turbine, the partners would then work towards commercial application of ammonia-fired power generation in Indonesia.

The collaboration between Mitsubishi Power and ITB stems from a 2020 agreement to study next generation clean energy solutions at power plants. Research and development of ammonia-fired power generation will be conducted at ITB facilities.

Mitsubishi Power said aims of the partnership include promoting technology development between Japan and Indonesia and advancing the adoption of clean energies in Indonesia. It also aims to reduce the country’s use of coal.

In a separate collaborative agreement with Keppel Energy, Mitsubishi Power plans to explore the possibility of a 100% ammonia-fired gas turbine on Jurong Island, Singapore. This follows an announcement in August 2022 that Keppel would develop Singapore’s first hydrogen-ready power plant in the Sakra sector of the island, constructed by a consortium including Mitsubishi Power and Jurong Engineering.

Mitsubishi Power is developing its H-25 gas turbine that would be fueled 100 percent by ammonia. The company hopes to bring it to commercialisation by 2025.

Ammonia, which is a compound consisting of hydrogen and nitrogen, is a highly efficient hydrogen carrier, and it can also be directly combusted as fuel. In recent years, attention has begun to focus on ammonia from two perspectives: achieving carbon neutrality through transition to a hydrogen society, and minimising environmental impact caused by existing energy modes.