KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) wholly-owned TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a feasibility study in low carbon hydrogen and low carbon ammonia supply chain in Malaysia.
TNB said the MoU was signed between TNB GenCo, IHI Corporation and Petronas Gas + New Energy.
“The MoU includes a feasibility study on ammonia co-combustion in coal-fired power generation systems as part of initiatives to decarbonise the country’s power sector.
“The scope of the study covers exploring the technology of co-firing ammonia at coal power plants in Malaysia and evaluating the technology and economics across the entire ammonia supply chain which includes the green ammonia production from renewable energy sources and blue ammonia from natural gas,” it said.
TNB said the study, which was expected to be completed this month, involved assessment on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, blue and green ammonia co-firing in coal-fired power plants.
Ammonia is commonly used as fertiliser and is a chemical raw material with potential to be used as carbon-free fuel.
Ammonia co-firing could significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in coalfired power plants which suppresses nitrogen oxides while stabilising combustion, it added.
TNB Genco managing director Datuk Nor Azman Mufti said use of ammonia could help in efforts to cut the group’s emissions intensity by 35 per cent and 50 per cent of coal generation capacity by 2035.
“The MoU would be a stepping stone for TNB Genco’s aggressive efforts in search of decarbonisation opportunities in tandem with TNB’s Sustainability Pathway and in support of the government’s initiative to reach the target of 45 per cent greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity reduction in 2030,” he said.
TNB said the tripartite agreement might lead to IHI providing Malaysia with coal-fired boilers and performing technical and economic assessments in the development of ammonia combustion technology.
Meanwhile, Petronas will leverage its experience as an international energy producer to support renewable energy and low-carbon hydrogen policy research.
TNB Genco, which owns 52.79 per cent of Malaysia’s power generation market share, will support the application of ammonia co-firing technology at its coal-fired power plants.
Source: New Straits Times
