The presence of different alternatives for renewable energy is not a topic that catches anyone by surprise. Large companies are already investing in this sector for various reasons: to comply with emission legislation, to meet market needs, and even some out of a genuine conviction of the necessity to help the planet. When we talk about renewable energies, solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, and even the use of hydrogen come to mind. However, two major Asian companies have joined forces and knowledge to launch a source of energy based on the burning of green ammonia.
The Japanese engineering company IHI Corporation, together with Gentari Hydrogen Sin Bhd (the national oil and gas company of Malaysia), have created an ambitious partnership, with a list of goals of the same nature. They want to bet on decarbonization and the energy transition based on turbine technology that burns green ammonia, with the idea of providing this type of clean energy to Malaysia.
Energy transition
The energy future seems to be increasingly focused on the use of renewable energy sources that will definitively and permanently replace fossil fuels. Large companies are already involved in this industry for a variety of reasons, including compliance with emission regulations, to meet market demand, and even for some genuine convictions about the need to help the world.
Currently, the two energy sources that make up the largest industries are solar and wind, with the latter being more used for large-scale utilities. There are also other options that are not stagnant in terms of growth, such as hydroelectric energy, which, despite having the highest energy production worldwide, also requires the most time and infrastructure, making its growth slow. Something similar occurs with nuclear energy, which has experienced unstable growth due to its volatility.
Collaboration between companies for a sustainable future
When we refer to the different sources of renewable energy, the most basic ones come to mind: solar, wind, hydroelectric, or nuclear energy. However, the one that is taking the most headlines is hydrogen, which is becoming one of the preferred choices for companies in the automotive sector. If we have to point out the leading country in hydrogen fuel cell technology, without a doubt, it is Japan.
However, this is not the only source it is interested in; rather, it has decided to diversify and invest in different options. For this reason, a collaboration has been established between two of the largest energy companies in Asia. On one hand, the Japanese engineering company, IHI Corporation (IHI), and on the other, a subsidiary of PETRONAS, Gentari Hydrogen Sin Bhd (Gentari), which corresponds to Malaysia’s national oil and gas company.
Objectives of this collaboration
It is not the first time that a Japanese company decides to collaborate with a competitor. Toyota has already done it, with the aim of sharing its energy solutions with the rest of the companies in the market. This time it has been the company IHI Corporation, which started this collaboration with Gentari Sin Bhd in 2023. The main objectives that they intend to achieve with this partnership are:
- To accelerate the development of sustainable energy production in the Asia-Pacific region and Malaysia, utilizing green ammonia as the main fuel, to be integrated into the country’s energy system.
- To achieve the net reduction goals for greenhouse gas emissions, in line with the plans of the Malaysian authorities.
- IHI’s role is to provide the engineering expertise necessary to develop the infrastructure that supports the technology for ammonia-burning turbines.