IHI Launches Demonstration of 6,000 kW-Class Ammonia-Fueled Generator

en.Wedoany.com Reported - IHI Corporation has commenced operation, demonstration, and safety testing of a 6,000 kW-class ammonia-fueled reciprocating engine in Japan, with completion scheduled for March 2027. This dual-fuel engine, developed by subsidiary IHI Power Systems (IPS), is designed for land-based power generation applications, including data centers, industrial parks, and as a replacement for diesel generators in remote areas such as mining operations.

Testing is being conducted at the Ota Plant in Gunma Prefecture, while auxiliary components of the engine, including fuel supply facilities, exhaust gas after-treatment systems, and ammonia leak mitigation measures, are also being inspected.

The engine can operate in both ammonia combustion mode and conventional heavy fuel oil combustion mode, with an expected ammonia fuel share and greenhouse gas reduction rate exceeding 90%. The engine technology draws on development experience from the 1,600 kW-class engine installed on the ammonia-fueled tugboat "Sakigake," which has been successfully operating in Yokohama Port since August 2024. Additionally, IPS has collaborated with NYK Line on four-stroke ammonia-fueled marine engines.

If test results are favorable, commercial sales are expected to begin from the second quarter of 2027.

This demonstration project continues to solidify IHI's commitment to establishing an ammonia fuel industry and value chain in Japan and globally. Project examples include signing agreements to convert boiler plants to use ammonia as fuel, and progressively improving technology to increase the ammonia combustion ratio from 20% to 60%, now reaching 100%.