Said to be Japan’s ‘first’ demonstration project, the ATR technology, typically used for large-scale syngas production applications, will now be offered for low-carbon and ammonia production.

Air Liquide Engineering & Construction will provide the technology for the development of the Kashiwazaki Clean Hydrogen and Ammonia Project in the Hirai area of Kashiwazaki City, Japan.

INPEX took the final investment decision (FID) to begin constructing the Kashiwazaki project in November last year (2022). With plans of producing up to 700 tonnes of blue hydrogen per year while in still in pilot, INPEX hopes to achieve commercialisation from 2030.

When combined with carbon capture technology, Air Liquide say the ATR process can offer higher energy efficiency, lower investments, and a simplified single train production process to facilitate carbon capture of up to 99% in highly integrated industrial facilities.

“Air Liquide’s expertise in providing customers with efficient, reliable, innovative technologies and solutions is at the heart of our ambitions to support the decarbonisation of industries,” said Michael Graff, Executive Vice-President of Air Liquide Group.

“We are pleased to collaborate with INPEX CORPORATION and to be one of the contributors to the development of this first demonstration low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia project in Japan,” he added.

The pilot project deepens Air Liquide’s hydrogen involvement in Japan, after announcing it planned to build the ‘first’ 24/7 hydrogen refuelling station in the country last year (2022).

Read more: Air Liquide announce plans to build Japan’s first 24/7 hydrogen station