Green Ammonia Demonstration Plant of JGC Begins Producing Ammonia Using Hydrogen From Asahi Kasei

Asahi Kasei Corp. is pleased to announce that a demonstration plant¹ utilizing green ammonia production technology of JGC Holdings Corporation (JGC) began producing ammonia in January 2026, using hydrogen manufactured by Asahi Kasei. The plant is part of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) Green Innovation Fund project, “Large-scale Alkaline Water Electrolysis System Development and Green Chemical Plant Demonstration,”² for which Asahi Kasei and JGC were jointly selected.

The hydrogen used in this demonstration plant is produced at the 10-MW-class alkaline water electrolysis system at the adjacent Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R)³, which Asahi Kasei has operated since 2020.

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The demonstration plant (photo courtesy of JGC)

The hydrogen supplied to this demonstration plant is used to produce green ammonia, which is expected to play a major role as a fuel and chemical feedstock for achieving a decarbonized society. This demonstration is aimed at gaining technological expertise that will enable future scale-up and commercialization.

Asahi Kasei’s role

Through the operation of the hydrogen production facility at FH2R, Asahi Kasei provides a stable supply of hydrogen generated from renewable energy. Asahi Kasei supports the demonstration operation by leveraging its operational expertise in water electrolysis systems that respond to fluctuations in renewable energy supply.

JGC’s role

Leading the design and construction of the green ammonia synthesis plant, JGC will conduct the demonstration operation through fiscal 2026 to advance process optimization and commercialization studies.

Masami Takenaka, Lead Executive Officer and Senior General Manager of Asahi Kasei’s Green Solution Project, commented: “We believe that ammonia production using hydrogen made with renewable energy is an important technology for realizing a decarbonized society, offering potential as an energy storage and transport medium as well as supplying carbon-free ammonia, which has a wide range of applications as a chemical feedstock. By leveraging the expertise gained through this demonstration, including coordination with chemical plants to maintain stable hydrogen supply, we will help advance future commercialization and build a sustainable society powered by clean hydrogen.”

Going forward, Asahi Kasei will utilize the data and expertise gained through this demonstration to further accelerate technological development and commercial feasibility studies for future clean hydrogen production. The company is committed to helping drive the transition to a decarbonized society.

¹ Progress in Demonstrating Technology for Green Ammonia Production | News Releases 2023 | JGC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
² Start of green chemical plant demonstration project utilizing large-scale hydrogen production system
³ More information on FH2R by NEDO