Osaka Gas, through its US subsidiary Osaka Gas USA, has invested in Starfire Energy, a Denver-based green ammonia start-up, it said on April 9.  

Startfire is developing systems to produce green ammonia from renewable energy, air and water, and systems to crack ammonia into hydrogen. This system will leverage ammonia’s use as a carrier for hydrogen, Osaka Gas said. Other investors include AP Ventures, Chevron, New Energy Technology, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

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Starfire was founded in 2007 to develop renewable energy solutions, which later evolved into a focus on small-scale distributed ammonia production modules and technology for cracking ammonia into hydrogen to generate electricity.  

Starfire is currently developing ammonia synthesis technology using its own proprietary catalysts, which are characterised by the ability to synthesise ammonia at lower pressures than conventional processes, with a focus on flexible operations for more efficient integration with renewable electricity sources, Osaka Gas said. 

Osaka Gas said in its Carbon Neutral Vision unveiled in January it would identify and develop new technologies that are key to decarbonisation, and believes that green ammonia is one of several promising options.  

“Starfire’s technology is expected to bring critical solutions with regard to the production of green ammonia. This investment exemplifies our desire to cooperate to accelerate the production of green ammonia to support carbon neutrality goals,” the company said.