Green ammonia
Last month, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI; Tokyo, Japan; www.mhi.com) announced that it has invested in Starfire Energy Inc. (Denver, Colo.; www.starfireenergy.com), a developer of modular chemical plants for the production of green NH3 and H2 using a patented catalyst technology. The partnership will be used to advance the development of commercial-scale applications to decarbonize NH3 production and unlock its potential as a zero-carbon energy carrier. The investment has been executed through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., joining a consortium of investors, including AP Ventures, Chevron Technology Ventures, New Energy Technologies and Osaka Gas USA.
Ammonia has an energy density comparable to fossil fuels and significantly higher than lithium-ion batteries and compressed or liquid H2. It can be affordably and easily stored and transported, leveraging established infrastructure and shipping networks, and is regulated by well-developed codes and standards.
Starfire Energy’s Rapid Ramp NH3 technology produces NH3 from renewable energy, air and water. The company has also developed its Prometheus Carbon-free Fire, a system to crack NH3 back into H2, providing an efficient means of green H2 storage and transportation.