AboitizPower, JERA to study feasibility of ammonia co-firing on coal plants

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) is collaborating with Japan’s largest power generation company, JERA Co. Inc., to study the feasibility of co-firing ammonia on coal plants as part of its initiative to reduce carbon emissions.

In a statement, AboitizPower Thermal Power Generation Group chief operating officer Felino Bernardo said, “We’re looking at having that [feasibility] study perhaps starting next year.”

“Assuming everything goes well, our aim is to get [results] within the decade,” Bernardo said, adding that “hopefully, by 2030, the prices [of ammonia] have already gone down, then we can do our own test in one of our facilities.”

Ammonia co-firing technology involves the replacement of some coal with ammonia as combustible fuel for power generation.

Bernardo, however, said there is a need to develop the technology and the supply chain before co-firing can be considered feasible in the Philippines.

Accordingly, JERA will start a 20% ammonia generation demonstration test this year in Japan before taking steps to increase it to over 50% by 2028.

Bernardo added that AboitizPower is seeking to secure financial support for its own ammonia co-firing feasibility study from METI or Japan’s Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The AboitizPower official also cited the possible role of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the country’s transition to a cleaner energy mix.

“I believe that [nuclear] could be part of the Philippine energy mix. It’s just a matter of time. What’s important is that we make sure that we have the capacity to plan and execute it in a safe way. Safety is number one as far as nuclear technology is concerned,” he said.

“If the promise of SMR will come true, it’s going to be affordable as well,” he added.

Apart from ammonia co-firing and SMRs, Bernardo also emphasized the need to develop liquified natural gas (LNG)-to-power projects to create a balanced energy mix that will support the country’s baseload electricity requirements.

“We have to consider the whole power system. Renewable is not going to do it alone. Coal-fired power plants cannot do it alone. LNG can be the transition fuel to support the demand for stable electricity, while society is still figuring out how to balance reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for baseload power,” Bernardo said. —Ted Cordero/ VAL, GMA Integrated News