Business | Tsubame BHB Co., Ltd.

Tsubame BHB provides on-site production technologies that overturn common assumptions about the centralized, large-scale production of ammonia, by combining ammonia synthesis catalyst technologies developed by the Hosono Group at the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly the Tokyo Institute of Technology) and ammonia production facilities using electride catalysts that can synthesize ammonia at low temperatures and low pressures.
Ammonia can be produced by setting up plants anywhere in the world, as long as there is electricity and hydrogen available. These facilities can be installed on land or in plants owned by the client. Through this business, our goal is to control the cost of transport and storage, minimize environmental impact, and contribute to reducing costs.

Core Technology
Product
How to Order
Project
What’s Ammonia?

Core Technology

Electride Catalyst

Ammonia synthesis using innovative electride catalyst technologies

The Hosono Group at the Institute of Science Tokyo (formerly the Tokyo Institute of Technology) was the first in the world to use low cost cement materials to synthesize electrides in which electrons act as negative ions.
The Hosono Group also believed that it was possible to easily cut the bonds of nitrogen molecules by utilizing the nature of electrides in that they give off electrons easily, so when electrides were applied as ammonia synthesis catalysts, they were able to achieve results with half of the active energy as compared to conventional catalysts, and with ten times the turnover frequency (TOF).
In this way, it was confirmed that ammonia could be produced efficiently at lower temperatures and lower pressures than ammonia synthesis using the conventional Haber–Bosch process, so this technology is now being used to reduce both energy consumption and environmental impact.

Product

Distributed ammonia production system proposed by Tsubame BHB

Using electrides to synthesize ammonia under low temperature, low pressure conditions made it possible to reduce the scale of ammonia production. The distributed ammonia production systems offered by Tsubame BHB can be installed close to farmlands or on the grounds of the users’ plants.
The value provided by the systems also hedges supply chain risks and promotes decarbonization through the effective use of distributed renewable energy.
Recently, increasing supply chain risks resulting from geopolitical risks, a surplus of distributed renewable energy, and a lack of established decarbonization methods have become global issues, but on-site ammonia production systems will contribute to resolving these issues.

Comparison of existing supply chain methods and Tsubame BHB’s method

	Existing methods
Target	High volume, concentrated production; merits of scale	Small-scale distributed on-demand production
Annual production capacity per unit	200,000~1,200,000 tons	500~50,000 tons (target)
Capital investments	Tens of billions of yen	Several hundred million ~ several billion yen
Operating conditions	10~30MPa; 400~500°C	3~5MPa; 300~400°C

Produce only what is needed,
where it is needed
Reduce storage costs
Reduce transport costs

Product Type

Tsubame BHB’s product types are divided into three main categories – small, medium, and large – depending on the ammonia production volumes. Small and medium products, which are distributed ammonia production systems, are currently at the core of the company’s business (as of August 2024). Technologies for large products are currently under development, but these product types will target demand for new ammonia applications such as fuel and hydrogen carriers, and are expected to reach the market in 2030 and beyond.

Virtual Reality

You can take an Internet Tour of green hydrogen, ammonia, and low carbon fertilizer production plants, moving the camera in any direction you want.
You can also see Tsubame BHB’s ammonia synthesis module.
*Creating a VR version of a plant with an annual production scale of 5,000 tons/yr.

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Downloads

Download and view business introduction materials.
*Please note that filling out the form is required to download the materials.

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How to Order

We enable order-made ammonia production making maximum use of surplus energy, including electricity and hydrogen.

Interviews

First, after confirming the content of the consultation, we complete a confidentiality agreement to conduct detailed studies with the client.
Feasibility study

We conduct a feasibility study regarding conditions for introducing the ammonia production facilities. We also present a rough quotation on the cost of introduction, based on the results of the feasibility study, and ask the client to consider how to move forward.
Basic design / Final quotation

First we conduct basic design. We also present the final quotation based on the basic design. We then ask that the client make a judgment on the investment for introducing the ammonia production facilities, based on this final quotation.
Introduction/Operation

We undertake engineering, procurement, and installation of the ammonia production facilities.
After that, client begins operation of the facilities.

Scope of Supply

The scope of Tsubame BHB’s responsibilities ends with the delivery (engineering and procurement) of the ammonia production facilities. It is assumed that the client will take responsibility for the installation of the facilities, as well as day-to-day operations and maintenance. We assume that the client already owns facilities required for ammonia production, including raw material (hydrogen/nitrogen) facilities, ammonia storage facilities, utilities (electricity, water, and air) facilities, as well as any exceptional facilities, but Tsubame BHB can also consider handling the delivery (design and procurement) of these facilities as needed.

	FS/FEED	Engineering	Procurement	Operation & Maintenance
Ammonia production facilities			Client	Client
Raw material facilities (hydrogen/nitrogen)	or Client	Client, as a rule (discussions possible)
Ammonia storage facilities
Utilities facilities (electricity, water, air)
Exceptional facilities

Project

Advanced technologies originating in Japan, gaining the world’s attention

We have received inquiries from around the world regarding Tsubame BHB’s technologies, and we are currently undertaking projects with many countries.
These projects involve studies of applications not only in the chemical industry but in a wide range of fields, including energy, agriculture, and environmental protection. Based on this international interest and cooperation, we have accelerated the practical application of these technologies, and are striving to contribute to a sustainable society.