ADNOC leads global charge with first certified bulk shipment of low-carbon ammonia to Japan

ADNOC announced on 14 May that it delivered the world’s first certified bulk commercial shipment of low-carbon ammonia enabled by carbon capture and storage (CCS) to Mitsui & Co. for use in clean-power generation in Japan.

The low-carbon certification process, from production to delivery, has been conducted by TÜV SÜD, an internationally renowned certification agency.

ADNOC's US $23 billion pledge to low-carbon solutions, climate technology, and decarbonization facilitated this, showing the company’s commitment to helping its clients reduce their carbon footprints, especially in industries that are difficult to clean up.

The carbon dioxide (CO2) that is carried in the cargo will be permanently sequestered in the world's first CO2 injection well located in a carbonate saline aquifer.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director for Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth at ADNOC, said, “The UAE and Japan enjoy a longstanding strategic energy relationship and we are building on this partnership to enable a lower-carbon future.”

He also highlighted that hydrogen and its carrier fuels such as ammonia, will play a critical role in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors, confirming that ADNOC will continue to work with its customers to advance these solutions and help them reduce their emissions.

The state of the low-carbon hydrogen market

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that hydrogen will account for around 10% of global energy consumption for the world to reach net zero by 2050. ADNOC is an early mover in the production of hydrogen, and it aims to capture 5% of the global low-carbon hydrogen market by 2030 in support of the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy.

Low-carbon ammonia is the most promising at-scale hydrogen carrier and potential clean fuel for a wide range of applications, including transportation, power generation and industrial, including steel, cement, and fertilizer production.

Junji Fukuoka, Managing Officer of Mitsui said, “We have worked together with ADNOC, METI and stakeholders in Japan to deliver this first bulk commercial shipment of CCS-based low-carbon ammonia. Energy solutions remain a strategic focus for Mitsui, thus, we are excited to commence this large-scale clean hydrogen and ammonia value chain with ADNOC in light of global climate action.”

This year, ADNOC has embarked on the design of a facility in Abu Dhabi that will produce up to 360,000 tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per year by capturing up to 3 million tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking over 650,000 internal combustion vehicles off the road.

Additionally, ADNOC, together with its partners, TA’ZIZ, Fertiglobe, G.S. Energy Corporation and Mitsui are developing a 1 million tonnes per year (mtpa) low-carbon ammonia facility at the TA’ZIZ Industrial Chemicals Zone.