JERA Co., Inc. has reached a Project Framework Agreement with ExxonMobil to jointly explore the development of a low-carbon H₂ and ammonia production project in the U.S.

ExxonMobil is developing what is expected to be the world’s largest low-carbon H₂ production plant at its Baytown Complex east of Houston, Texas, U.S. The plant is slated to have an annual production capacity of approximately 900,000 tpy of low-carbon H₂ and production capacity of more than 1 MMtpy of low-carbon ammonia. The project aims to commence production in 2028.

Under the terms of the agreement, JERA and ExxonMobil will explore:

• JERA’s ownership participation in the Project
• JERA’s procurement of approximately 500,000 tpy of low-carbon ammonia produced by the Project for demand in Japan.

JERA is playing an important role in the energy transition and is taking on the challenge of expanding renewable energy and developing zero-emission thermal power technologies. In 2020, the company established a JERA Zero CO₂ Emissions 2050 goal of achieving net zero CO₂ emissions from domestic and overseas businesses by 2050.

JERA will continue to contribute to global decarbonization and solving energy problems by building and expanding low-carbon H₂ and ammonia supply chains in cooperation with leading domestic and overseas companies.

“Cooperation among leading companies is essential to establish supply chains for ammonia, H₂ and other products that are key to zero-emission thermal power,” said Steven Winn, JERA’s Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Global Strategist. “We believe that working together with ExxonMobil, who is actively promoting investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and H₂, will contribute to the transition to a global decarbonized society.”

“Building world-scale projects for new markets requires supply, demand and supporting regulation to all come together in sync,” said Dan Ammann, President of ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions. “We appreciate JERA’s leadership in helping advance the H₂ economy and see this agreement as an important catalyst.”