Abstract
This chapter shows significance of hydrogen energy in decarbonizing the Japan’s energy system and identifies areas to which hydrogen energy needs to be introduced as a matter of priority, after reviewing the present status of the Japanese energy demand and supply structure. Among varieties of forms of hydrogen energy, this article explains that ammonia (NH3) has many advantages in transferring and using hydrogen energy in a large amount. Furthermore, this article points out that NH3 is found to be usable as a CO2-free fuel in power generation and heating in industrial processes, by explaining research findings of NH3 combustion mechanism and technological developments in the NH3 combustion technology which were realized by the SIP “Energy Carriers” (2014–18): a government-funded innovation promotion project. In addition to those technological aspects, cost advantages of NH3 as hydrogen energy is also explained by referring to cost examination studies conducted by independent public organizations. Lastly, recent public and private sector movements both in Japan and foreign countries which aim at social implementation of above-mentioned research outcomes; that is introduction of NH3 as a CO2-free fuel are described. Furthermore, future possibility of use of NH3 as hydrogen carrier (not CO2-free fuel) is briefly discussed.
The former Deputy Program Director of SIP “Energy Carriers” [1]
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SIP “Energy Carriers” is an innovation promotion project carried out in 2014–18 under the Cross Ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) of the Cabinet Office of the Japanese government
The non-electric energy other than heat includes fossil energy (or resource) which is used for raw materials, such as coking coal for blast furnaces in the steel industry and naphtha and other hydro-carbon raw materials for the petrochemical industry
Cross Ministerial Startegic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP) run by the Cabinet Office of the Japanese government took up the development and promotion of production, transportation, and use technologies of Hydrogen energy as one of the themes of the program. The title of the theme was SIP “Energy Carriers” and was conducted from 2014−18 with 150 million dollars funded by the government
The decomposition reaction of NH3 is an endothermic reaction, which means that about 13% of the hydrogen energy that NH3 can carry needs to be used in the decomposition process
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A swirl burner uses a set of guiding vanes to give a swirling motion to the combustion air
A combustion method in which NH3 is combusted in slightly NH3 rich condition in the primary combustion zone, then in the secondary combustion zone diluting combusted gas by air and burning H2 generated by the decomposition of NH3 occurred in the primary combustion zone
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In terms of heat value. In the following, co-firing rates described in this article are this base
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The NH3 production cost of this method can be estimated by the chemical reaction formula of NH3 synthesis (1/2N2 + 3/2H2 → NH3) and the cost of hydrogen production by electrolysis
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NEOM is a new industrial city development project promoted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which aims to create a new way of life through cutting-edge technology. It is working to build a new city based on 100% reliance on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind for electricity consumption, full e-governance, and construction of net zero-carbon houses as the standard. A project entity has been established with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a Saudi Arabian government fund, as the project fund
An electric power company headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
The reason behind this business decision is believed to be the judgment that the price of hydrogen in the automobile fuel market is at a high level at this stage, and therefore, sufficient profit can be secured even with the effort and cost required for the reconversion of NH3 to produce hydrogen
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Shiozawa, B. (2023). Potential of Ammonia as CO2-Free Fuel and Hydrogen Carrier. In: Aika, Ki., Kobayashi, H. (eds) CO2 Free Ammonia as an Energy Carrier. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4767-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4767-4_3
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