About
The world can be better off today.
Ammonia is a resource that can be converted into various forms of energy and materials.
Using the ammonia production technologies that we are developing, ammonia can be produced anywhere – in the mountains, on an island, or in the wilderness – as long as there is water, air, and electricity.
We want countries without resources to gain access to those resources and creat the world where any countries has access to the resources.
We will continue to pursue these technologies, to achieve a richer sustainable society.
Our Story
We will leverage original technologies to resolve issues faced by
humans in relation to food and the environment,
and achieve a sustainable society.
Our Beginnings
Our challenge began with innovative research using mainly inorganic electride materials developed by Professor Emeritus Hideo Hosono and his team at the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly the Tokyo Institute of Technology) as ammonia synthesis catalysts.
Tsubame BHB was established in April 2017 for the development and social implementation of small- and medium-scale distributed plants that efficiently produce ammonia under low temperature, low pressure conditions, using technologies discovered at the Institute of Science Tokyo. These distributed plants – that is, on-site ammonia synthesis systems – will revolutionize ammonia production methods based on the “Haber–Bosch process (the HB process)” for large-scale, centralized production using conventional catalysts.
The Importance of Ammonia
Ammonia is an essential element of our daily lives. It is a key element in fertilizers, and provides the nitrogen required to grow crops. In this way, ammonia supports food production, and enables the food supply required to sustain the world’s population.
Many regions of the world, however, cannot secure sufficient fertilizer because of their distance from ammonia production locations, and the longer supply chains result in higher costs.
Food Issues Facing the World
Currently, about 735 million people around the world, about one out of every 11, are suffering from malnutrition. Looking at conditions by region, Asia has the highest number, at roughly 431 million, while in Africa as much as 20.5% of the population is undernourished *1.
About 80% of those living in extreme poverty live in agricultural areas. Many people make their living through agriculture, but cultivation is limited to the few months of the rainy season, and farming is dependent on rainfall and other natural conditions, so crops are dramatically influenced by the weather, and with a shortage of fertilizer, the cost of production increases.
As a result, farmers cannot secure a stable income, and this impacts their lifestyles in general; for example, they may be unable to purchase enough food, or go to a hospital, or even send their children to school. *1 UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Crop Prospects and Food Situation (2023)
Our Technologies Can Change the World
Innovative technologies can resolve these issues. By promoting on-site ammonia production, we will contribute to the distribution of ammonia production so that fertilizer can be produced efficiently in any country. On-site production of fertilizer in each country will reduce the cost of fertilizer, and can help to reduce the number of people suffering from malnutrition.
These technologies will substantially increase the production efficiency of crops, and contribute to sustainable agriculture. Our technologies will also have a significant impact on environmental issues. The efficient production and use of fertilizer can reduce environmental impact, and could be an important first step toward building a sustainable society.