South Korea abandons ammonia co-firing at coal-fired power plants

• 20 days ago (2026-08-07)
• David Flin

Asia 1048 Coal 371

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South Korea has confirmed that ammonia co-firing will not form part of its long-term coal transition. Kim Sung-hwan, South Korea’s Climate, Energy, and Environment Minister, said that the technology could keep coal-fired power stations operating for longer.

Kim said that the government could not justify using ammonia to preserve coal-fired power plants while committing to phase out coal-fired generation by 2040. The new administration plans to close 20 coal units by 2030 and retire the rest of the fleet by 2040.

Coal-ammonia co-firing has been excluded from South Korea’s 2026 clean hydrogen power auction, which will procure 500 GWh of electricity annually. A separate general hydrogen auction will offer 930 GWh annually. Kim said that the clean auction would place greater emphasis on domestic hydrogen production, including renewable-powered electrolysis. Eligible fuels must remain below South Korea’s clean hydrogen threshold of 4 kg CO2e for every kg of hydrogen produced.

The government has not confirmed cancellation of Korea Southern Power ’s existing 15-year auction award. A government official said that the Samcheok project could remain the country’s only commercial coal-ammonia power plant by 2030.