(Adds detail on ammonia co-firing, Japan comment)
By Kate Abnett and Makiko Yamazaki
BRUSSELS/TOKYO, April 14 (Reuters) - Climate ministers
from the Group of Seven countries are set to agree that ammonia
could be used to cut emissions from fossil fuel-based power
plants, but only under certain conditions - offering a cautious
endorsement of G7 host Japan's climate plans.
The latest draft statement for the meeting of G7 ministers
on April 15-16 in Sapporo, Japan, said: "some countries are
exploring the use of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its
derivatives in the power sector to work towards zero-emission
thermal power generation."
The draft, seen by Reuters, said this strategy must comply
with numerous conditions. It must be aligned with reaching a
largely decarbonised power sector by 2035, comply with limiting
global warming to 1.5C, and avoid emissions of nitrous oxide and
other pollutants, the draft said.
Japan is testing co-firing ammonia - a compound made of
nitrogen and hydrogen - in its coal-fuelled power plants as a
way to reduce CO2 emissions, and has sought the endorsement of
other G7 countries for the plan.
Previous drafts of the statement, seen by Reuters, showed
Japan's push had hit resistance from other G7 countries, who
refused to back the use of hydrogen and ammonia in power
generation without multiple caveats.
Britain, backed by France, had proposed adding that ammonia
could only be used if it is aligned with largely decarbonising
the power sector by 2035 and curbing global warming to 1.5C, the
limit that would avoid its most severe impacts.
An official from Japan's Industry Ministry dealing with
international affairs declined to comment on the draft
statement, saying negotiations are ongoing.
The plan to expand ammonia co-firing aims to cut the climate
impact of Japan's existing power plants running on coal - the
fossil fuel with the highest CO2 emissions.
However, the plan has faced criticism from some
analysts, who suggest Japan should instead use the limited
supply of low-carbon ammonia in sectors like fertiliser
production, which lack other options to cut CO2.
Energy analysts BloombergNEF said last year ammonia-coal
co-firing was too expensive to be widely used in Japan's power
sector, and that a coal plant running on up to 50% ammonia would
still emit more CO2 than a gas plant.
(Reporting by Kate Abnett, Makiko Yamazaki; additional
reporting by Yuka Obayasha; Editing by Kim Coghill and Susan
Fenton)
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