"Development of ammonia production technology at normal temperature and pressure" selected by NEDO Green Innovation Fund - Toward carbon-free ammonia production process -

Ammonia, which does not emit CO2 when burned, is attracting attention as an energy carrier and a new fuel for power generation and industrial boilers in order to realize a decarbonized society. However, the current manufacturing method (Haber-Bosch method, hereinafter referred to as the "HB method") involves reacting hydrogen and nitrogen under high temperature and pressure, which requires a large amount of energy and unavoidably emits CO2. In addition, since the HB method extracts hydrogen as a raw material from fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas, it also emits CO2 from the raw material. Ammonia is seen as a promising next-generation energy source, but reducing CO2 emissions during production is an issue in building a sustainable society.

This project aims to establish new technology for producing ammonia under mild reaction conditions at room temperature and pressure, and to develop the technology for cost-competitive mass production, thereby realizing a carbon-free ammonia production process.
The technology will utilize the "molybdenum catalyst" developed by Professor Nishibayashi Yoshiaki of the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo and his colleagues, which achieved the world's highest activity (published paper: Nature 568, 536–540 (2019)). The "molybdenum catalyst" activates nitrogen gas, which reacts with protons (H+) and electrons generated by the reaction of samarium iodide with water to produce ammonia at room temperature and pressure. This is a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to replace the Haber-Bond process, which has a history of over 100 years, but the large amount of samarium iodide oxide that is emitted after the reaction with water remains a technical challenge for provide for society.
This project is being conducted in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Osaka University, Kyushu University, and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, and aims to contribute to the establishment of a green ammonia supply chain on a commercial scale by establishing new ammonia production technology that utilizes high-performance molybdenum catalysts.

【Business summary】

1.

Using a molybdenum catalyst developed by Professor Hiroaki Nishibayashi of the University of Tokyo and his colleagues, we will establish a method for producing ammonia from water, nitrogen, and electricity at room temperature and pressure.

• ■ Structure: Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (organizer), University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Osaka University, Kyushu University
• Subcontractor/joint partner:
• National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Nissan Chemical Corporation, TOSHIBA CORPORATION
• ■Period: FY2021-FY2024 (planned)

2.

The electrolyte membrane area of the newly developed manufacturing method will be increased (cartridge), and scale-up data will be obtained through demonstration tests combining multilayer cartridges to verify practical application.

• ■ Structure: Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (organizer)
• ■Period: FY2024-FY2028 (planned)

[Reference] NEDO Green Innovation Fund Project Special Site
  https://green-innovation.nedo.go.jp/

NEDO news release
January 7, 2022 “Green Innovation Fund project “Building a supply chain for fuel ammonia” started https://www.nedo.go.jp/news/press/AA5_101502.html