Renewable Fukushima demonstrator now operational

A renewable ammonia production facility in Fukushima, Japan, has reached full operational status and is now capable of producing up to 4 tonnes of ammonia per day. The project was delivered with engineering, procurement, and construction support from JGC Holdings Corporation, while US-based KBR supplied its licensed green ammonia technology and proprietary process equipment. The ammonia produced at the site is intended primarily for use in power plant denitrification (DeNOX) systems, helping reduce nitrogen oxide emissions.

The facility, which is owned and operated by JGC, incorporates several advanced technologies and systems:

• Alkaline electrolyzers supplied by Asahi Kasei generate low-carbon hydrogen for ammonia synthesis.

• Electricity is sourced primarily from a neighboring solar photovoltaic plant, with the utility grid available as a backup power source.

• A jointly developed control system from JGC and Asahi Kasei dynamically adjusts hydrogen production to match fluctuations in renewable electricity generation.

• The plant utilizes KBR’s K-GreeN Advanced Process Control system to optimize ammonia production efficiency and operational stability.

• Liquid nitrogen required for the process is delivered to the facility by tanker trucks.

The project received financial and technical support from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the country’s national research and development agency focused on advancing innovative energy technologies.

The initiative was first presented by the JGC team during the AEA Global and AEA APAC Conferences in 2022, where the project roadmap was outlined. Earlier in 2026, the facility successfully completed commissioning activities, including the startup of its 10 MW alkaline water electrolysis system, marking a significant milestone in Japan’s efforts to scale renewable ammonia production.