A new study published in Engineering has outlined the technical status and future outlook of ammonia-fired power generation, positioning ammonia as a viable hydrogen energy carrier and low-carbon fuel to support global energy transition. Authored by Toshiro Fujimori from IHI Corporation, the paper reviews recent developments in ammonia combustion technologies for gas turbines and coal-fired boilers, along with key challenges in large-scale application.

Ammonia is regarded as a promising energy carrier owing to its favorable storage and transport properties compared with liquid hydrogen, and global demand is projected to rise significantly toward 2050 driven by power generation and marine fuel needs. Research and deployment in Japan began in the 2010s under national strategic programs, with industry and academia collaborating to advance ammonia combustion fundamentals and applied technologies for power and industrial heating systems.

In gas turbine power generation, IHI has developed the world’s first 2 MW gas turbine capable of 100% liquid ammonia combustion, equipped with a two-stage combustor designed to enhance stability and reduce emissions. Long-term durability testing in a packaged power generation system has been underway, with operational performance verified through load rejection and load dump tests. Improved combustor designs have effectively controlled unburned ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions, while NOₓ emissions meet local regulatory standards with conventional selective catalytic reduction systems. Parallel efforts are ongoing to scale the technology for large-scale gas turbines, with collaboration targeting 7F-class models for commercialization by 2030.

For boiler-based thermal power, ammonia co-firing offers a practical route to decarbonize existing coal-fired infrastructure. IHI has developed a 20% ammonia co-firing technology and demonstrated it in a 1000 MW commercial power plant, retrofitting burners and fuel supply systems while retaining existing boiler and flue gas treatment facilities. The two-stage combustion approach suppresses NOₓ formation without undermining coal combustion performance, and field tests show comparable unburned carbon in ash and no detectable unburned ammonia or nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide and sulfur oxide emissions decrease roughly in line with the ammonia fuel share, supporting steady decarbonization of conventional power generation.

The study notes that ammonia-fueled technologies are also progressing in marine engines, with demonstration operations of ammonia-fueled tugboats launched in 2024. Wider adoption requires strengthened safety management, standardized design and operation, and continued cost reduction in renewable ammonia production and related equipment. Regional differences in energy systems call for tailored solutions, and sustained industry collaboration will be essential to build a reliable global ammonia value chain that supports both local and global decarbonization goals.

The paper “Ammonia-Fueled Power Generation for Energy Transition,” is authored by Toshiro Fujimori. Full text of the open access paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2026.01.012. For more information about Engineering, visit the website at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/engineering.