JERA is reportedly proceeding with the construction of an ammonia co-firing facility at its Hekinan power station in Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, as part of the low-carbon transition of its coal-fired generation. An EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) consortium comprising IHI Plant, Taisei, and Chubu Plant Service is handling the construction, with four large ammonia storage tanks approximately 60 meters in diameter being newly built to achieve 20% ammonia co-firing by heat value at Hekinan Unit 4 (coal-fired). As of March 2026, exterior work on Tanks No. 1 and No. 2, including roof air-lifting, has been completed, and the project is reportedly progressing sequentially toward a targeted commercial operation start in FY2029.
This project is being pursued as one of the core initiatives under JERA’s decarbonization roadmap, the “Zero Emission 2050” initiative, and is classified as a coal-fired ammonia co-firing project. The target facility is Hekinan Unit 4 (coal-fired), where ammonia will be co-combusted as fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power generation. The EPC consortium roles are reportedly divided, with IHI Plant handling design and procurement, Taisei handling the foundation and containment works for the storage tanks, and Chubu Plant Service handling piping and structural design. Specific details of the co-firing burner process technology or any overseas licensor have not been separately confirmed, and the project appears to be based on proprietary technology accumulated by JERA and the IHI group.
The newly built ammonia storage tanks are four units approximately 60 meters in diameter, with total storage capacity expected to reach 160,000 tons upon completion. As of March 2026, Tanks No. 1 and No. 2 have completed exterior construction, including the roof air-lifting method, while construction of the remaining tanks and auxiliary facilities is reportedly proceeding sequentially. Hekinan Unit 4 is targeting approximately 20% ammonia co-firing by heat value, with full-scale ammonia imports expected to begin alongside the commercial operation start in FY2029.
This project is regarded as a representative example of a transition strategy under JERA’s “Zero Emission 2050” initiative that reduces carbon emissions in stages while retaining existing coal-fired facilities. The simultaneous construction of large storage tanks and modification of the generating facility places this project among the larger-scale decarbonization investments in the power generation sector, according to reports.
Ammonia co-firing at coal-fired plants is being examined in multiple countries as an alternative that can reduce carbon emissions while reusing existing generation assets, and this project is considered a representative case of building commercial-scale ammonia storage and co-firing facilities. The construction of large ammonia storage tanks and associated piping and unloading facilities reportedly generates equipment and engineering demand similar in nature to LNG terminal construction, which could translate into additional order opportunities for EPC firms with storage tank design and construction experience, as well as suppliers of unloading equipment such as valves, pumps, and piping. Ammonia co-firing generation is often cited as an intermediate step toward full ammonia-fired generation, so the progress of this project is likely to serve as a reference point for investment decisions across the broader ammonia fuel supply chain. In addition, recent power sector orders have continued not only for new gas turbines but also for low-carbon conversion projects at existing thermal facilities, and this project is seen as a reference case for gauging the order scale and process composition of large-scale facility conversion projects within that trend. It may also serve as a comparison point for other power generators considering similar ammonia or hydrogen co-firing projects, particularly regarding storage tank sizing and process scheduling.
The progress on the remaining two storage tanks and the schedule for the co-firing conversion work on the Hekinan Unit 4 generating facility itself are among the first items to watch. Whether long-term ammonia supply agreements are concluded, and confirmation of supply sources, ahead of the targeted FY2029 commercial operation start also warrant attention. In addition, whether JERA will order similar ammonia co-firing projects at other coal-fired power stations, and how this project compares with the progress of ammonia and hydrogen co-firing projects at other Japanese utilities, are also cited as points to watch. Whether a follow-up plan to raise the co-firing ratio above 20% will emerge also remains a matter of industry interest.