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**Energy Group introduces ammonia-blended combustion technology for coal-fired boilers. Author/Source: Coal-based New Materials. Date: 2022-01-26. Clicks: 20. On January 24, the world’s first application project using the \"ammonia-blended combustion technology for coal-fired boilers,\" developed by Energy Group, which is the chair organization of the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance, was successfully put into operation in Yantai, Shandong. It also passed the technical evaluation conducted by the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering and the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation. This technology has for the first time achieved a pilot-scale demonstration of a 40-megawatt coal-fired boiler operating with 35% ammonia blending, marking China’s ammonia blending technology for coal-fired boilers as one of the leading ones in the world. Coal-fired power generation results in massive carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for about 40% of China’s total carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, reducing the carbon emissions from coal-fired power generation is one of the key measures for China to achieve its goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Through experimental studies on the mechanism of ammonia-coal mixed combustion and industrial trials of ammonia mixing in 40-megawatt coal-fired boilers, this technology has verified the feasibility of ammonia mixing in coal-fired boiler combustion, and developed a technology for such combustion in thermal power plant boilers. Ammonia-blended combustion in coal-fired boilers involves mixing ammonia with coal in a certain ratio to use as fuel for the boiler, thereby achieving stable combustion while also reducing carbon emissions. Research on the mixed combustion of ammonia and coal is still in its infancy on a global scale; industrial-scale application has not yet been achieved internationally. At the forefront of this research, the target proportion of ammonia used in such mixtures remains at 20%. **The ammonia-blended combustion technology developed independently by the energy group enables a 40-megawatt coal-fired boiler to burn 35% ammonia in its fuel mixture; the boiler operates smoothly, with higher efficiency compared to when it burns only coal under the same load conditions. The NOx concentration at the back of the boiler is lower than in the case of pure coal combustion, and the NH3 burnout rate reaches 99.99%. Compared with pure coal fuel, the carbon emission reduction from ammonia-coal mixing combustion exceeds 35%, marking a breakthrough in low-carbon combustion technology for the thermal power industry. Data from the China Electricity Council show that as of the end of November 2021, China’s coal-fired power generation capacity reached 1.1 billion kilowatts. If all such units were equipped with 35% ammonia-blended combustion technology, it would be possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 950 million tons per year – an amount equivalent to the emissions reductions achieved by 5,549,85640 electric vehicles replacing gasoline-powered vehicles. Ammonia (NH3) is a zero-carbon compound; its combustion products are water and nitrogen, with nitrogen being one of the main components of the atmosphere. At the same time, ammonia (NH3) is also a promising clean energy carrier and storage medium, and it represents one of the key solutions for the storage and transportation of hydrogen energy. Under the dual-carbon strategy, hydrogen energy in China has entered a period of rapid development. The \"White Paper 2020\" prepared by the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance states that, under a scenario of achieving carbon peak by 2030, China’s annual demand for hydrogen will reach 37.15 million tons, with the production of hydrogen from renewable energy accounting for around 5 million tons ； Under the carbon-neutral scenario by 2060, China’s annual hydrogen demand is expected to rise to around 130 million tons, accounting for approximately 20% of total final energy consumption, with the production of hydrogen from renewable sources reaching around 100 million tons. Hydrogen energy, particularly green hydrogen, holds great promise, but the storage and transportation of hydrogen have always been a major obstacle to its efficient utilization. As an efficient hydrogen storage medium, ammonia boasts advantages such as high energy density, ease of liquefaction for storage and transportation, high safety, and zero carbon emissions. Moreover, over 80% of the world’s ammonia is used in the production of fertilizers, and there is a well-developed system for its trade and transportation. Therefore, converting hydrogen produced from renewable energy into ammonia for transportation can significantly overcome the bottlenecks in hydrogen transport, reduce energy costs, and improve the overall efficiency of hydrogen utilization. **While striving to act as a \"stabilizer\" and a \"ballast\" for energy supply, the energy group continues to increase its investment in new energy sources such as hydrogen, wind power, and photovoltaic energy, taking various measures to build a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system. Recently, **Energy Group held successive seminars on the application of hydrogen and ammonia technologies in the coal transportation industry, as well as a special meeting on the development of the hydrogen industry. The meeting called for a full recognition of the important strategic role of hydrogen and ammonia energy in the green and low-carbon transition of the energy sector, as well as for promoting the coordinated development of hydrogen energy with coal-based energy industries and new energy industries ； Advance the \"triple transformation and integration\" of coal-fired power units, promote the exploration of using liquid ammonia in coal-fired units to achieve comprehensive pollution reduction and carbon cutbacks, foster the combined development of hydrogen production from new energy sources and modern coal chemical industries, and replace hydrogen-based new energy sources in coal production, transportation, and related supporting processes. The meeting suggested that efforts should be made to develop application scenarios as well as to research and advance the technologies related to the use of hydrogen and ammonia, with a view to systematically introducing their use in applications such as vehicles used in transportation and shunting locomotives ； “Plan a number of science and technology innovation projects during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. At present, **the Energy Group is actively advancing the research and development of ammonia combustion technology for coal-fired power plants, as well as planning demonstrations of green ammonia production using green hydrogen.