JERA and Uniper are collaborating to facilitate the development of the initial production of 2 MMtpy of clean ammonia with expansion potential up to 8 MMtpy, to greatly accelerate the production and supply of zero-carbon fuels from the U.S. for use in the U.S., Europe, Japan and greater Asia. The proposed facility on the U.S. Gulf Coast, developed by JERA Americas and ConocoPhillips, aims to produce hydrogen and convert it into clean ammonia to be supplied to JERA and Uniper under long-term sale and purchase agreements, with Europe as the primary initial export market, with Uniper targeting about 1 MMtpy of green ammonia by the end of the decade.

A project engineering study will be completed by year end to develop the first phase of this landmark project which will assess green and blue hydrogen opportunities. It is expected to reach commercial operation in the late 2020s including a complete certified CCS program.

Both companies are working jointly to optimize their LNG portfolio. As a result, Uniper will be able to supply additional LNG to Germany and JERA to Japan and beyond.

Steven Winn, Chief Executive Officer of JERA Americas Inc. based in Houston, Texas said, “JERA is committed to providing cutting edge solutions to the world’s energy issues and is actively working to establish both the ammonia and hydrogen value chains. The combination of a skilled workforce, plentiful natural gas, abundant renewable resources, deep-water ports, and ideal CCS geology make the US Gulf Coast uniquely advantaged to produce the low carbon fuel to enable the Atlantic and Pacific energy markets transition. JERA and ConocoPhillips will be a low-cost ammonia supplier to domestic and international markets. We believe this project offers a unique opportunity to support Germany’s decarbonization efforts while advancing ammonia technology development for hydrogen distribution and industrial decarbonization.”

Yukio Kani, JERA Corporate Vice President, Managing Executive Officer of JERA Inc. headquartered in Tokyo, added, “JERA is working in markets around the world with our business partners to deliver cleaner energy supply and power generation solutions. JERA’s advanced technologies to meet its commitments as a low carbon fuel supplier and end user, together with ConocoPhillips’ low carbon innovation and Uniper’s proven low carbon technologies would support the energy evolution in the U.S., Europe, Japan and Asia. We also see this collaboration as a positive step to help Europe, Germany and other users during this time of crisis with new low carbon energy supplies coming from the US.”

Niek Den Hollander, Uniper SE, Chief Commercial Officer said, “We are very excited to partner with JERA on this landmark and timely initiative. Our collective goal is to jointly develop and deliver material LNG supply in the very near term and US sourced green and blue hydrogen to Europe to support our longer-term values and goals. Uniper’s key role in meeting the urgent need for alternative gas and clean fuel supply is complemented by JERA and Uniper’s combined global clean energy expertise and technical development capabilities, allowing collaboration between two of the world’s leading energy security and transition companies to accelerate the meeting of Europe’s needs and goals.”

Marc Merrill, President and CEO of Uniper North America added, “I do not think we can underscore enough the importance of continued strong global relationships, particularly at this extraordinary time for both energy security and the energy transition. Uniper North America highly values this opportunity to work closely with JERA Americas on core US infrastructure projects delivering both LNG and hydrogen.“