GE Vernova’s Gas Power business and IHI Corporation (IHI), today announced the recent signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to progress to the next phase of technology and engineering for the development of a new gas turbine combustor capable of using ammonia as a viable fuel option for power generation compatible with GE Vernova’s 6F.03, 7F and 9F gas turbines.
This collaboration is a follow-up to earlier MOUs between the companies and builds upon IHI’s successful development of a 2-megawatt (MW) gas turbine using 100% liquid ammonia. This first-of-it’s kind project reduced greenhouse gases including nitrous oxide (N2O) generated by more than 99% with the combustion of ammonia.
Following two years of joint studies on the economics of the ammonia value chain, we are now thrilled to ink a new chapter in our collaboration with IHI and proceed to the next phase of technology and engineering as agreed in our Ammonia Roadmap to develop decarbonization pathways that can future-proof existing investments in power generation.
..said Jeffrey Goldmeer, GE Vernova Director of Hydrogen Value Chain.
In this engineering phase, combustion technology concepts will be evaluated for their ability to meet key operational requirements and the impact on the entire power plant. GE Vernova and IHI plan to develop a two-stage combustor configured to burn up to 100% ammonia to comply with emission requirements. Combustion testing for the maturation of the new combustor design will take place in IHI’s facilities in Japan.
In addition to installation for new builds, the new combustor is expected to offer an alternative path to decarbonize existing gas turbine power plants. Without replacing the existing gas turbine, power plants operating on conventional fuels can be upgraded to operate on fuel that does not produce carbon emissions when combusted by simply changing the natural gas combustor to a new ammonia combustor with minimum upgrades to the fuel system and associated balance of plant systems.
