Mitsubishi invests in Starfire Energy to make green ammonia, hydrogen

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd (MHI) announced that it has invested in Starfire Energy Inc, the developer of modular chemical plants, for the production of green ammonia and hydrogen with a patented catalyst technology, located in Denver.

The partnership aims to advance the development of commercial scale applications to decarbonise ammonia production and unlock its potential as a zero-carbon energy carrier.

The company stated that ammonia is a solution with an energy density comparable to fossil fuels and higher than Li-ion batteries, compressed or liquid hydrogen. It can be stored and transported, leveraging established infrastructure and shipping networks. It can be used directly as a fuel or it can be 'cracked', and its hydrogen harvested, to provide a means of hydrogen storage and transportation.

Starfire Energy's 'Rapid Ramp NH3' ammonia synthesis technology produces zero carbon ammonia using only renewable energy, air and water as inputs. The modular solution is sized to connect directly with renewable energy production, providing a scalable, distributed source of zero carbon ammonia. The company has also developed their carbon-free fire, a system to crack ammonia back into hydrogen, providing an efficient means of green hydrogen storage and transportation.

Starfire's solutions provide carbon-free fuel to power utility gas turbines, large-scale ships, and process heat for industries like steel, cement and fuel cell vehicles.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group provides spanning energy, logistics and infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defence.

Written from a news release.