Clean ammonia comprises both blue ammonia and green ammonia. Blue ammonia is derived from a carbon capture and storage process, while green ammonia is produced carbon-free by using hydrogen sourced from renewable energy as feedstock.

Yara said the collaboration would accelerate Japan’s green energy transition and build upon the growing momentum associated with clean ammonia. Japan has set targets to grow the nation’s ammonia fuel demand to 3 million t/y by 2030 and 30 million t/y by 2050, each as part of its initiative to cut CO₂ emissions and reach carbon neutrality. Sumitomo Chemical also aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

“Yara and Sumitomo Chemical have cultivated a strong relationship over many years to pursue this exciting prospect of working together and drive forward innovative decarbonization technology,” said Magnus Krogh Ankarstrand, president of Yara Clean Ammonia. “This next phase of enhanced collaboration will contribute to the establishment of an end-to-end competitive ammonia supply chain which will be intrinsic in decarbonizing Japanese chemical sectors.”

As ammonia does not emit CO₂ during combustion, it is seen as an effective future energy source due to properties that are ideally suited for the hydrogen economy. Furthermore, it does not require cooling to extreme temperatures to liquefy and has a higher energy density than liquid hydrogen, making it more efficient to transport and store.

This MoU with Sumitomo Chemical is the fourth collaboration on clean ammonia that Yara has announced this year with Japanese partners, including JERA, Kyushu Electric Power and Idemitsu Kosan.

Author: Elaine Burridge, Freelance Journalist