JERA to carry out ‘world’s first’ truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering

Japan’s largest power generation company JERA has decided to supply ammonia to an ammonia-fueled tugboat (A-Tug) owned by compatriot shipping company NYK Line in a truck-to-ship bunkering operation.

The operation is scheduled to take place at the Port of Yokohama in late May 2024.

When implemented, this will be ‘the world’s first example of truck-to-ship bunkering of fuel ammonia’, JERA said.

JERA has concluded a joint study agreement with NYK and chemical company Resonac Corporation aimed at bunkering ships with ammonia. So far, the partners have jointly studied the establishment of safe methods for handling fuel ammonia and the creation of systems for transporting it to and receiving it at port areas, while also liaising with related parties about developing rules related to its supply to ships.

The A-Tug is expected to be delivered in June 2024.

JERA has concluded an ammonia bunkering agreement with Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation, which will operate the A-Tug, to provide it with a regular supply of fuel ammonia.

“As we work to achieve our JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050 objective of net-zero CO2 emissions from domestic and overseas business operations by 2050, we are taking on the challenge of building hydrogen and ammonia supply chains. The supply of fuel ammonia to ships is our first example of a decarbonization solution that reaches beyond power generation sector toward use in other industrial sectors (multi-purpose),” the company said.

Ammonia emits no CO2 when burned, so using it as ship fuel enables a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at sea.

“We believe this will make a substantial contribution to achieving zero-emissions shipping in the future,” JERA added.

In related news, Australia’s green energy firm Fortescue, with the support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), government agencies, research institutes, and industry partners, recently conducted ‘the world’s first’ ammonia bunkering last month.

The Singapore-flagged vessel Fortescue Green Pioneer completed the ammonia bunkering operation in the Port of Singapore. The ship was loaded with liquid ammonia, in combination with diesel in the combustion process, from the existing ammonia facility at Vopak Banyan Terminal on Jurong Island for the fuel trial.