Inpex sanctions blue hydrogen project in Japan
Inpex Corporation has taken a final investment decision (FID) on the Kashiwazaki blue hydrogen and ammonia demonstration project located in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, the company said on November 15.
The company has sanctioned the drilling operations and the construction of facilities associated with the project to be implemented at the Inpex-owned Higashi-Kashiwazaki gas field in the Hirai area of Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture.
The project is expected to involve the transportation of natural gas produced at the gas field to the Hirai area using an existing pipeline, and the production of 700 metric tons/year of blue hydrogen. A portion of this hydrogen will be used to produce blue ammonia, and the remaining hydrogen will be utilised for power generation, Inpex said.
The CO2 generated during the production of hydrogen and ammonia will be separated, pressurised, and injected in a subsurface gas reservoir as a carbon dioxide capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) initiative.
According to Inpex, this will be Japan’s first demonstration project integrating blue hydrogen and ammonia production and usage.
The project’s hydrogen and ammonia production and CO2 recovery will be subsidised by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation. In addition, Inpex will conduct joint research with Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security on the evaluation and implementation of subsurface storage of CO2.