Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd. has initiated trial operations of its commercial scale ammonia synthesis facilities at INPEX Corporation’s Kashiwazaki Hydrogen Park in Niigata Prefecture. The facilities apply the company’s proprietary electride catalyst technology, enabling ammonia synthesis at significantly lower temperatures and pressures than conventional Haber Bosch processes. During initial trials, ammonia production was confirmed, marking the first commercial order for Tsubame BHB’s low temperature, low pressure systems implemented through engineering partner Daiichi Jitsugyo for local deployment and operational validation purposes.
Designed for an annual capacity of approximately 500 tons, the compact ammonia units are intended for on site installation near end users. The project forms part of INPEX’s blue hydrogen and ammonia production and utilization demonstration, integrating hydrogen production from domestic natural gas with carbon capture, utilization, and storage. The demonstration covers power generation using hydrogen, ammonia supply to customers, and underground CO2 storage, presenting Japan’s first model of localized production and consumption. INPEX has cited strong performance in process safety and reduced energy requirements, particularly the significant reduction in gas pressurization power compared with conventional ammonia manufacturing approaches. These results support broader deployment across industrial sites seeking flexible, lower footprint ammonia supply chains within regional energy transition projects nationwide.
Why it matters
The trial validates a lower energy pathway for domestic ammonia production supporting Japan’s blue hydrogen and carbon management strategy.
Source Attribution
Source: Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd.
